Four Australians were included in the League World XIII Source: Supplied

Two more than Australia.

The Kangaroos held onto their No.1 ranking in the latest Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) ratings released after the code’s major tournament this year, but that hasn’t stopped New Zealand players from usurping more admired Aussie stars in the world’s best side.

Shaun Johnson was deemed a better option for the halfback role than Cooper Cronk, while Kevin Proctor and Simon Mannering joined Sam Burgess in a back row that ignored Aussie options completely.

Jesse Bromwich deservedly capped an outstanding 2014 with a front row start alongside Canterbury and England machine James Graham.

COMMENT: GOLDEN BOOT WINNER JOHNSON STILL HAS TO PROVE IT

Shaun Johnson swas named Golden Boot winner Source: News Corp Australia

The other Kiwis named were veteran winger Manu Vatuvei and Dean Whare — the Penrith destroyer partnered in the centres by outstanding Roosters flyer Michael Jennings.

The Kangaroos were too good for New Zealand in the Anzac Test this year, which followed quickly on the heels of a flawless World Cup campaign but that still wasn’t enough to get a majority representation in the world’s best side.

Jennings was joined by Aussie skipper Cameron Smith, Four Nations absentee Johnathan Thurston, and premiership winning fullback Greg Inglis in a powerful side rounded out by Englishmen Ryan Hall, Graham and Burgess.

But perhaps the biggest surprise of the presentation was saved for the Golden Boot award, with New Zealand halfback Shaun Johnson named despite an inconsistent season for the Warriors, who failed to make the finals.

Johnson was dominant in the Four Nations, capping the tournament with a man of the match display in the final — enough for the judging panel to give the diminutive halfback the nod over Clive Churchill Medallist Sam Burgess.

Sam Burgess was included in the world XIII Picture Gregg Porteous Source: DailyTelegraph

“I felt I finished the year really well and was able to take that into the Four Nations, and was really happy with how I played for the Kiwis,” Johnson said after his crowning.

“It was just made easy by the culture that we have there now and the group of players that we have around us.

“There’s no way I could have received this award without those boys playing their part, and I’ll accept it on their behalf.”

The ceremony marked the second consecutive year Burgess had to settle for second place in the running for the world’s best player accolade.

WORLD XIII 2014

1 Greg Inglis

2 Ryan Hall

3 Michael Jennings

4 Dean Whare

5 Manu Vatuvei

6 Johnathan Thurston

7 Shaun Johnson

8 James Graham

9 Cameron Smith

10 Jesse Bromwich

11 Kevin Proctor

12 Simon Mannering

13 Sam Burgess