They had been dubbed Australia’s “generation next”.
But the jury is out on who can do the job in the green and gold after New Zealand’s 30-12 triumph over a depleted Kangaroos on Saturday night in their Four Nations opener in Brisbane.
For the first time since the 2010 Four Nations final, the Kiwis emerged victorious over Australia – albeit after Daly Cherry-Evans (back) and fullback Greg Inglis (illness) were added to the Kangaroos’ already bulging injury list.
Still, nothing was going to dampen the spirits of a Kiwi outfit that snapped the Kangaroos’ eight-game winning run against their arch rivals.
Remarkably, it was just New Zealand’s third win in 23 meetings with Australia.
And the Kiwis are still to welcome back from suspension dangerous hooker Issac Luke who led the haka barefoot at Suncorp Stadium.
Australia’s depth was always going to be tested at the Four Nations after injury and suspension ensured 11 new faces were named in their initial 24-man squad.
And five Test debutants ran out for Australia in front of a 47,813-strong crowd.
But some anxious moments await coach Tim Sheens after Cherry-Evans was helped off the field in the 35th minute after being stood up in a tackle by wily Kiwi half Shaun Johnson.
And a question mark hovers over Inglis who was replaced by Dylan Walker at fullback when he did not emerge from the halftime break after battling illness all week.
Australia fielded only six members of the Roos’ squad that subdued New Zealand in May’s trans-Tasman Test.
But they still traded blows early with New Zealand, with scores locked up 12-12 at halftime.
However, the second half was all New Zealand.
In the 47th minute, Johnson’s grubber pinballed off Kangaroos defenders before he regathered to score.
Winger Dean Whare scored off a Kieran Foran kick in the 50th before Jason Nightingale touched down when Walker spilt a Johnson bomb in the 68th.
Beau Scott drew first blood in just the third minute for Australia when Cooper Cronk opened up the New Zealand defence after Gerard Beale could not handle a bomb.
New Zealand regrouped only for Nightingale to spill the ball over the line in the 13th minute before back-rower Kevin Proctor ensured there was no doubt when he defied three defenders to score in the 16th.
Inglis again exposed soft defence with his outstretched hand from dummy half in the 21st minute before skipper Cameron Smith converted to notch his 100th international point.
Proctor was disallowed a 24th-minute try for a forward pass before Kiwi utility Lewis Brown’s 29th-minute try from dummy half locked up the scores at the main break.
Gappy
Guest
Not even close to the team I would pick It's hot and at the end of a long season it's time to use speed out of dummy half So sorry to everyone but smith gone Farah is quicker Team should be like this 1. GI or Moylan 2. Tupou 3. Jennings 4. Walker or GI 5. Johnston 6. Hunt 7. Cronk 8. Woods 9. Farah 10. McGuire 11. Thaiday 12. Scott 13. Bird 14. Klemmer 15. Parker 16. Jackson 17. Cordner That should be close to the team Ideally I would rather have Tolman in front row The Morris boys on one side And JT and Cronk but not going to happen
Trent
Guest
oh, I see. That must be the reason the kiwis played so well at the last world cup!
Bulldog
Guest
Agreed. Aaron Woods is a dud / fallacy. He has been talked up into a status he can not achieve. He certainly is no Matt Scott
catcat
Guest
kiwis will lift again with Luke back next week red hot favourites for mine
fiver
Guest
So many Samoan jerseys at the game, Kiwi too. Was great to see.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Melbourne is 3pm next week
code 13
Roar Guru
Sydney has 100+ NRL matches during the season. Brisbane has 12. So it makes sense to play the internationals in places like Melbourne, Brisbane, Newcastle etc which receive few rugby league matches.
code 13
Roar Guru
There are simply more Australian NRL players than New Zealand NRL players. Combine that with the combinations found in Origin and 6-8 weeks of NRL competition to get players up to speed, people shouldn't be surprised when the Anzac Test match is one-sided. But when New Zealand get a camp together for an extended period - like in 4 Nations - they have the ability to beat Australia. So the stats for the two nations aren't a clear cut indication of New Zealand's quality.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Loving the combination of Mannering, Proctor and Taumalolo, also the building confidence of Foran and Johnson. Foran has really gained confidence after being quite gun shy in most of his test for NZ in his early career. For me JWH should stay out of the side, he may be good for the Roosters but he has been rubbish for the Kiwis and his loose cannon nature is something we don't need. SKD is so frustrating to watch, he has made more meters for the kiwis sideways then he has forward. While the Aussies have a huge injury toll i still think the Kiwis have more improvement in them from returning players. 1. Hiku/Hoffman 2. Roger Tuivasa Sheck/ DW Zelezniak 3. Hurrell/Beale 4. Whare 5. Nightingale/Vatuvei 6. Foran 7. Johnson 8. Matulino 9. Luke 10. Brommich 11. Mannering 12. Proctor 13. Taumalolo 14. Eastwood 15. Harris/Blair 16. Moa 17. Taylor/Brown
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Curtain raisers and double headers are a great idea. Not sure why it hasn't been done more often but I hope they keep up with it. There must be some way for the financials of it to be set up so that participating lowered-tiered nations receive some revenue. This would provide a real economic incentive for teams to qualify besides the obvious game and atmosphere experience.
Targa
Guest
Even Dunedin (which has almost zero league interest) is getting excited about the Kiwis-England test under the roof. 1st league test south of Christchurch in about 90 years
Jay C
Roar Guru
I don't think it's time to go throwing the baby out with the bathwater just yet. It looks like Hunt will step up to cover DCE, hopefully they get rid of Farrah on the bench and play an actual front rower. Josh McGuire should have been named. I would play Corey Parker at Prop given the lack of genuines. 1. Inglis 2. Moylan 3. Walker 4. Jennings or even Croker 5. Johnson 6. Hunt 7. Cronk 8. Woods 9. Smith 10. Parker 11. Hoffman 12. Thaiday 13. Bird 14. Klemmer 15. Guerra 16. Scott 17. Ideally McGuire, but I assume you can't change allegiances midway through a tourny so maybe Gavin Cooper Is Teo still in the country? I know he is leaving but geez... On a side note, how much will NSW use Hayne as an excuse for Origin next year. Qld have lost Folau, Hunt and now Teo. Imagine that backline. Klemmer adds a bit of muscle. Parker is a better front rower than Thaiday is and at least he can handle it fitness wise. Is Dave Taylor injured as well?
Gappy
Guest
The problem I believe was the fact Aus needed 2 if not 3 front rowers not 2nd rower playing front rower. The same thing Qld do. With the team why are they carrying a utility???? We have bird on the field to play in the halfs if someone gets injuried. DCE is overrated he is great at the nrl level but it's seem he can't control he game at the elit level. It's time the Australian team pick a new team not the same old players and I mean a totally new team stop picking based on who they are start picking on what they did this year.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
They missed Scott, Myles, Tamou, and Gallen a heck of a lot more than Hayne.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
In what world
Maroon Blood
Guest
I was referring to the Sydney City v WSW game actually
Paulipaul
Guest
They missed hayne and thurston.
Mark Ferguson
Roar Rookie
We HAD a pack ?
Jay C
Roar Guru
You are right Dan. I think that will just about end Farrah's International career. Swap Tupou for Moylan or Johnson as well. Then you get coverage at FB. Which was not the case from Walker. Whose debut reminded me a lot of Locky's in the green and gold. If he can go on to have half the career he will be doin fine. Can Mcguire swap teams midway through a campaign? How does that work.....
Mike from Tari
Guest
Have to say that Cronks kicking game was "shite", the Oz defence was terrible, the Kiwis defence was spot on, they managed to out wrestle the Ozzies.