Great Britain coach Brian Noble chose to accentuate the positives after a Luke Rooney try 30 seconds from full time sent a Lions side containing five debutants crashing to a 12-8 defeat at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday night.

The victory sent Australia through to the Gillette Tri-Nations final but Britain's performance suggests they will be favourites to earn a re-match in the final at Elland Road in four weeks' time.

"It wasn't as heart-breaking as you'd imagine," said Noble.

First-half tries to Martin Gleeson and Brian Carney sent Britain out to an 8-0 lead but Australia hit back with an unconverted Willie Mason try on the stroke of half-time.

Rooney's first try locked things up 11 minutes into the second half and both sides traded field goal attempts until Rooney came up with the match-winner with virtually the last act of the game.

It was an eerily familiar scenario for Britain, who lost all three Ashes Tests in similar fashion last year. But this time there is some basis to Noble's optimism.

Despite playing an Australian side battled hardened by back-to-back Tests against the Kiwis, Britain - who were without injured full back Kris Radlinski (back) and loose forward Sean O'Loughlin (illness) - came within a coat of paint of snatching an unlikely victory. Paul Sculthorpe's late field goal attempt was partially charged before thudding off the underside of the bar as both sides exchanged one-point attempts in the frantic finish.

"It was disappointing to get done in the last second but there were some really encouraging, positive things for us," insisted Noble.

"We can improve. This wasn't a game that we had to win, so we will take a lot out of it."

Australia coach Wayne Bennett was at his most magnanimous, even inviting journalists into the Australia dressing room after the match.

"You don't lose many games of football when you control the ball and defend as well as they did," he said.

"I can't emphasise enough that the quality of the game was magnificent. I hope you all the media appreciate how good the other team played out there. They brought the best out in us.

"The quality of the football in this competition has been outstanding. We've had one draw, one win and probably should have had a draw here tonight. That's how tight it has been and I'm thoroughly looking forward to next week when Britain take on the Kiwis."

For his part, Noble admitted next week's match at Huddersfield was "pretty close" to being a match his side did need to win.