Both the Kiwis and the Kangaroos are talking each other up ahead of the Four Nations final in Wellington, but they aren’t talking to each other yet.

Players from both sides denied there was any banter between NRL teammates on the opposing sides when speaking to media ahead of the decider on Saturday.

Broncos forward Sam Thaiday claimed he couldn’t afford the international text message rate and St George Illawarra Dragons wing Jason Nightingale said none of his teammates were in the Australian side.

The Australians are looking to exact revenge for their 30-12 loss in the tournament opener, with Thaiday saying his inexperienced side has developed since then.

Nightingale, sporting six stitches to his forehead following a clash with England centre Dan Sarginson in Saturday’s 16-14 win, dismissed the earlier defeat over Australia.

“It really means nothing… that wasn’t the final, that was just the first game of the Four Nations,” he said.

“We can finish this tournament and say we beat the Australians once or we can finish the tournament and say `we won the Four Nations’.”

He also denied the Kiwis had an advantage by having one more day than the Australians to recover.

“Sometimes you come off a short turnaround and play out of your skin, and other times you do get a bit of fatigue,” he added.

“I am sure come Saturday that’s not going to be a contributing factor.”

Thaiday said Australia seemed to have the smallest forward pack in the tournament – but New Zealand weren’t buying into any talk about their lack of size.

“We just know that have a quality team, packed full of quality players,” Kiwi forward Tohu Harris said.

“We are going to have to step up even more. They are a quality team and they have certainly improved throughout the whole competition.”