GB's players look shattered after conceding another try to Australia

Noble said Britain's Tri-Nations schedule of four Tests in a row after a long domestic season was too demanding.

"You are never going to get the best out of the players after the season they had," Sculthorpe told BBC Sport.

"The RFL needs to shorten the season and have teams play each other home and away, rather than some three times."

Interview: Great Britain coach Brian Noble

Interview: Australia coach Ricky Stuart

The 12 Super League clubs currently play six extra games - a total of 28 - to ensure each of them has 14 home games.

A dozen of Britain's Tri-Nations squad were involved in the Grand Final on 14 October, two weeks before their opening Test against New Zealand in Christchurch.

"Someone like (St Helens full-back) Paul Wellens has played 40 games this season and is expected to play five Tests (if they reach the final) on the bounce," said Sculthorpe, who hopes to return to action in February or early March after a knee operation.

"We have to look at the number of fixtures to get the best out the team."

Some facets of Britain's game were outstanding but there isn't the consistency Former Saints & Wigan coach Ian Millward

Australia and New Zealand also enjoyed the benefit of two weekends off during the six-week group stage of the Tri-Nations.

Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart believes Britain's problems lie in the relative strength of Super League compared to the National Rugby League.

"If you look at the consistency, the competition over there has maybe five or six strong teams," he said. "But then you don't have the same intensity when you play the others."

It was a view endorsed by former St Helens and Wigan coach Ian Millward, now back in Australia as assistant coach with North Queensland.

"Some facets of Britain's game were outstanding," he told BBC Sport.

"But there isn't the consistency there. That is why Australia are better. The pressure they are under every week in the NRL, they take into the Test arena.

"There were some positives in the performances of players like Gareth Hock and James Roby, who were outstanding.

"But until they get that same consistency, they are not going to beat Australia on a regular basis."