New Zealand forward Issac Luke is keen to return a favour by throwing his full support behind England's attempts to win the Gillette Four Nations tournament.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs hooker was touched when the majority of England's large following at last year's World Cup transferred their allegiance to the Kiwis after their own elimination.

They were rewarded with a famous Kiwi victory over Australia in the Brisbane final and Luke hopes England can now emulate his side's achievements by beating the Kangaroos at Elland Road next week.

England reached the Four Nations final by turning the tables on New Zealand and avenging their World Cup semi-final loss with a 20-12 win at the Galpharm Stadium.

"They got over us, they played really well," said Luke, who featured off the bench. "They deserve to be in the final.

"On behalf of all the boys, I'll say we want them to win it.

"They really backed us up last year in the World Cup after they didn't make it.

"Personally, me and my family will be wanting them to win.

"We now know how England felt last year. This was like a semi-final win for them."

The game got away from New Zealand as Peter Fox crossed twice in the last five minutes of the first half.

The sides had looked like going in at the interval locked at 6-6 after Kyle Eastmond and Bryson Goodwin traded tries on the slick surface.

Ben Matulino cut the deficit early in the second period but the Kiwis were unable to make further inroads as England impressed defensively.

"England just played better and wanted it more," added 22-year-old Luke.

"We did what we needed to do but England managed to stick in there and capitalise on all our mistakes.

"We got ourselves back in the game but congratulations to them.

"The English boys playing who missed out on the final last year will now get a chance."

Team-mate Thomas Leuluai, who started at hooker, was also magnanimous in defeat and paid tribute to the efforts of the host nation.

The Wigan scrum-half, the only Super League player in the Kiwi side, said: "You have to give all credit to the English, there is no sour grapes there.

"They played the conditions better than us and deserved the victory. Good luck to them.

"It's football I suppose, you've got to perform on the day. I don't know if it was the occasion or if we were too pumped up or what.

"It's been a long year but I would have loved to have played another week."

Leuluai was also impressed by the efforts of his Warriors half-back partner Sam Tomkins, who shone in the England side alongside fellow 20-year-old Eastmond.

"He played really well out there, I'm happy for him," Leuluai said.