Giant Canberra prop David Shillington left no doubt he is ready to take over Petero Civoniceva's role in the Australia front-row after engaging in trench warfare with New Zealand in Saturday night's Four Nations final.

Nursing a golf ball size lump on his forehead and other facial cuts, Shillington and Adam Blair came to blows to ignite an all-in brawl seconds after referee Tony Archer blew for halftime with the game locked up at 6-6.

Shillington later accused the Kiwis of employing some "dirty tactics" on the way to their 16-12 upset over a battered Kangaroos side in Brisbane.

Kiwi utility Isaac Luke was placed on report by Archer for an unusual incident in the 29th minute in which he appeared to twist winger Lote Tuqiri's foot.

"They had a few dirty tactics, twisting knees and elbows," fired Shillington.

"One of them kneed Billy Slater in the head at the end of the first half and they pushed Nate Myles.

"I pushed Adam Blair and it was on after that... but that happens in Test football, everyone plays pretty aggressively.

"I don't think that (brawl) changed the game either way."

Slater, who came up with another big game clanger five minutes from full time spilling a Benji Marshall bomb under his posts, wouldn't confirm he'd copped a knee to the head before the fight broke out near the sideline on half time.

"The whole Four Nations tournament's been a bit like that. I think we've given as good as we've got." said Slater whose 58th minute try followed some good lead-up work by former Cronulla teammates Paul Gallen and Greg Bird.

"I'm not complaining about something like that."

Shillington said he and the players felt pretty bad about letting captain Darren Lockyer down in his last Test in Australia on his home ground.

"Everyone's upset for Locky," he said.

"I know the boys think they let him down a little bit and than we let each other down as well.

"We've got a lot to play for next year when the Four Nations Cup will be on the line again.

"Hopefully we can get it back with Locky as skipper."

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