The pain of New Zealand’s 2017 quarterfinal humiliation at the hands of Fiji hasn’t left the Kiwis squad, and now Michael Maguire’s side is out for revenge.
The Bati shocked the rugby league world five years ago, dumping New Zealand out of the World Cup with a 4-2 win — but now the Kiwis are confident they are a different beast.
Eight members of the current squad were a part of the disappointing loss five years ago, and six – Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Jordan Rapana, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Joey Tapine and Isaac Liu – played.
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Asofa-Solomona revealed this squad hasn’t forgotten about their last quarterfinals appearance.
“We are definitely still burning from that game and I am sure we will use that as motivation for the next game,” Asofa-Solomona told NRL.com.
“We have got a lot of players who were a part of that and they are still burning from the last World Cup.”
Fox League’s Mark ‘Spudd’ Carroll believes this Kiwis team is their best ever — and while New Zealand are plotting revenge on Sunday, Maguire will have one eye looking ahead to a huge semi final against the Kangaroos.
“I think it is (the best team they have fielded), I really believe that,” Carroll told foxsports.com.au.
“They just need to get a little bit more cohesion, but when you are playing some of the smaller nations, you end up playing a bit more tip footy.
“Instead of just going back to your yardage in the middle, you have a look at their front row and forward pack, if they switch on this weekend they will be a force.”
Should New Zealand beat the Fijians they face the reigning champions and their toughest test yet against Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos.
Fox League’s Greg Alexander dubbed that clash the “the real final” and Michael Ennis backed the Kiwis to upset Australia.
“There’s no doubt that, at different times, New Zealand has been able to beat Australia and the side they’ve got at the moment is as good as any of those sides that have beaten Australia previously,” Ennis said.
“That forward pack they’ve got is unbelievable and guys in their outside backs are in great form so that (Aus vs NZ semi) going to be a hell of a battle.”
Here’s a breakdown of how New Zealand are plotting a pair of big wins over the Fijians and Australians.
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FORWARDS
Fox League’s Braith Anasta knows what it takes to succeed on the international stage, playing in all three Tests in Australia’s Ashes series win over England in 2001.
He is confident New Zealand have a better forward pack than their rivals.
“I believe their pack is even better than the Aussie pack at their best,” Anasta said on Fox League’s preview show.
“I think New Zealand’s pack can get over the top of the Aussies in that semi final.”
Both Fox League’s Cooper Cronk and Nathan Hindmarsh echoed Anasta’s opinion — highlighting their “aggression”.
“I think the Kiwis are just going to nudge them (Australia) out in the size and versatility in the forward pack,” Hindmarsh said.
“I like the Kiwis forward pack, I think they are robust, they are aggressive, I think they are more aggressive than what the Aussies are.”
“That pack in itself can go toe for toe with anyone,” Cronk said.
“The Kiwis won the World Cup in 2008 with a pretty star-studded team and this one on paper has the ability to be one of the better teams New Zealand has produced.
“If they can perform and ultimately play Australia in the semi-final and beat them, well history beckons.”
In this World Cup, Maguire’s pack has been in electric form, combining for the second most post contact metres per game of any team, behind only England.
The Kiwis also record 61.3 tackle busts per game, 3.3 higher than Samoa in second place, while also conceding the least amount of running metres per game with only 681.
New Zealand’s forward pack also make the most of their tackles, limiting their opponents to only 184 post contact metres per game, the least of any side, alongside the least missed tackles per game — 11.7.
Meanwhile, Fiji have two key players that will need to fire in order to upset the Kiwis once again — Apisai Koroisau and Viliame Kikau.
“He is going to be a standout, Api is going to be a massive piece missing from Penrith next year, the Wests Tigers have picked up a beauty,” Carroll said.
“Just his speed from dummy-half, and his passing game is so impressive.
“If he sees a quick play-the-ball against the Kiwis, we will certainly see the best of him over the weekend.”
Carroll highlighted Kikau as the man to spearhead Fiji’s attack, and has imposing forwards around him including Tui Kamikamica, Siua Wong and Korbin Sims.
However, if the Fijians want to match it with New Zealand, they must compete for 80 minutes according to Carroll.
“He (Kikau) is going to have to lead the charge, but the thing is the game goes for 80 minutes,” Carroll said.
“The Fijians, they go hard for 60 minutes, but after that they seem to lose patience.”
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BACKS
New Zealand boast one of the most lethal halves combinations in World Cup history — Dylan Brown and Jahrome Hughes.
Hughes struggled with injury in 2022, while Brown was an integral figure in the Eels’ premiership charge, ultimately going down to the Panthers.
While Hughes has only featured for the Kiwis once this tournament, he delivered, recording three try assists and 14 tackle breaks to go with two tries.
Meanwhile, his 22-year-old halves partner appeared in two games and performed consistently throughout the group stages.
Fox League’s Greg Alexander backed the pairing and Braith Anasta said they must fire for New Zealand to win the World Cup.
“They’ve got Jahrome back at halfback, Dylan Brown at five-eighth, with Joey Manu at the back, it’s incredible,” Alexander said.
“Their halves, Hughes back from a hamstring and Brown, it’s a combination that could be a formidable one and it needs to be for them to win the World Cup and they can do it,” Anasta said.
Bulldogs halfback Brandon Wakeham and Henry Raiwalui make up Fiji’s playmaking partnership.
The 23-year-old set up Fiji’s only try against the Kangaroos in the group stages before recording two more try assists in a 60-4 win over Italy.
Experienced outside back Kevin Naqaima will play centre, with Raiders gun Semi Valemei on the other edge, while young gun Sunia Turuva will once again wear the No.1 jersey.
Maika Sivo will form a devastating partnership with Vuate Karawalevu on the wings for Fiji.
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THE GAMECHANGER
One man was missing from the Kiwis’ 2017 defeat — Joey Manu.
The 26-year-old has been in scintillating form for the Kiwis at fullback, and even slotted into five-eighth against Jamaica.
His performance against Lebanon in New Zealand’s first clash was eye-watering, recording 198 running metres, 15 tackle breaks, three try assists and a four-pointer of his own.
Carroll placed Manu into esteemed company, labelling him a “top three player in the world”.
“Class player, he is also a gamechanger, he can flip the game on its head, whatever position he plays, he is a menace,” Carroll said.
“He just scoots around, he’s so fast and plays with excitement that keeps everyone on their toes.”
Manu plays as a roving centre for the Roosters in the NRL, and both Cooper Cronk and Braith Anasta believe the silky ball runner’s skills are unlocked when he plays fullback.
“Joseph Manu at the back. Every time he has played any position really, but particularly fullback he is one of the best players on the field,” Cronk said.
“He is a great player and he is one of the best in the competition, who can play anywhere,” Anasta said.
“He can play a number of positions, but he is best when he is on the ball and that’s why when he moved into the five-eighth role he was really good.
“But just through the middle of the ruck off quick play-the-ball with the pack that they have got, with his footwork and his ability to change direction and have an offload and a flick pass, he is a great player and we have seen that at club land.”
