Great Britain coach Tony Smith insisted there were positives to take from the Northern Union's 25-18 defeat by the New Zealand All Golds in the centenary celebration at Warrington.
A match Smith labelled "the fourth Test" went the way of the Kiwis, who warmed up for the three-match series with a five-try success.
"We're not happy about coming second, that's something that has got to change," said Smith, who will announce his 25-man Great Britain squad on Sunday.
"That's one message for ourselves we'll be taking out of it.
"The players who make the cut will benefit from tonight, both from the physical aspect and from the lessons on how to play.
"Even the guys who do not make it will take the experience and now know the step they have to take to go to the next level.
"There were plenty of positives. There were some great players who have gone out on a positive note."
Stand-off Danny McGuire scored two tries, one of them a spectacular 90-metre effort, and Jon Clarke and Kirk Yeaman also touched down as the Northern Union twice held the lead.
Smith singled out skipper Adrian Morley and 19-year-old forward Sam Burgess for special praise.
"Adrian Morley played all 80 minutes and led from the front and young Sam was outstanding, it was something special for him to remember," he said.
Britain were handed a couple of disciplinary worries, with Morley and second rower Danny Tickle both place on report for alleged high tackles, and Yeaman went off on the hour after sustaining ankle ligament damage.
"We're hoping Kirk will be all right," said Smith. "He has sprained it before but we're hoping he will recover quickly."
Leeds forward Ali Lauitiiti scored two tries in four minutes in the first half to give the All Golds a 15-5 interval lead and they clinched victory with late tries from Louis Anderson and Clinton Toopi.
The match, held to commemorate the first-ever international and played under the 1907 rules, marked the last-ever match of Kiwi legend Stacey Jones, who was feted by his team-mates at the final whistle.
"It was emotional when the boys did the Haka," he said.
"I didn't expect anything like that. It was real special and something I'll remember for the rest of my life."
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