Kiwis win is just the start, says Maguire
It may well be the dawn of a bright new era for New Zealand rugby league, but the message was clear coming out of the Kiwis camp on Saturday night – this is just the first step.
Seemingly written off heading into the test, the Kiwis outplayed the Kangaroos for most of the contest at Mt Smart Stadium, before surviving a late rally to hold on for a memorable 26-24 win.
Led by inspirational captain Dallin WateneZelezniak, the Kiwis had stellar contributions right across the park, not least from rookie duo Joseph Manu and Brandon Smith.
It was a true team performance, built on resilience, commitment and a 92 per cent completion rate (compared to 72 per cent by the Kangaroos). And exactly what was needed to put the debacle of last year to bed.
Yet as they prepare to depart for a three-test tour of England, coach Michael Maguire – and everyone else in the squad – were not getting carried away with one result.
‘‘It’s very special but I also know it’s only the start. We’ve got to continually back up these type of performances, and that’s when you can start talking about the team and where we’re going,’’ Maguire said.
‘‘It’s okay to do it tonight, but we’ve got to reflect that over this next tour. We need to lay the platform and that’s what this period of time is all about. If they’re prepared to do what they did this week and keep improving and working hard, then this team can go to a great place.’’
The Kiwis’ performance was made all the remarkable by the fact that so much went against them.
They conceded a try in just the third minute and had three of their own ruled out by the video referee, including what looked to be a certain fourpointer to Watene-Zelezniak on the stroke of halftime.
Australia scored moments later to take a 12-8 lead at the break, but Watene-Zelezniak, who justified his appointment as skipper with a star display from fullback, said they never dropped their heads.
‘‘You can’t really change the ref’s mind once he’s called it so I just told the boys to keep ‘D-ing’ up and turn them away,’’ he said.
‘‘There were a few little things that if we did get it right it was a try, so we just had to keep chipping away, and at the end it really worked for us.
‘‘It was definitely something I’ll remember for the rest of my life and be able to tell my kids, and maybe my grandkids one day.’’
Maguire, the former Rabbitohs coach, was given a wild return to coaching as the Kangaroos scored twice in the final five minutes to send a scare throughout the stadium.
But that could not detract from the performance as the Kiwis snapped a three-match losing streak and beat the Kangaroos for the first time since 2015.
The coach had special praise for Smith and Manu, who both scored on debut, while the latter set up the match-sealing try with an incredible onehanded offload to Jordan Rapana.
‘‘Young Brandon hasn’t played a lot of hooker throughout the year but he just put his hand up, kept working hard and did what was needed for the team,’’ Maguire said.
‘‘Joey came up with some special moments. He’s a talented young man and to watch him grow over the years, I’m looking forward to that in the Kiwis.’’