New Zealand has won every major international rugby league tournament held in the Southern Hemisphere over the last decade. That includes the last time the World Cup was held down under, in 2008, plus the 2010 and 2014 editions of the four nations.
The Kiwis will no doubt be wanting to continue their streak as they aim to become of world champions for the second time.
RLIF World Ranking: 2
Best Result: Champions (2008)
2013 Finish: Runners-up
2017 RLWC Odds: $9
New Zealand is one of three nations that have appeared in every single RLWC.
It took 13 attempts for the Kiwis to finally be crowned world champions in 2008 and they put in a solid defence of their title in 2013.
A year after relinquishing their title, they went through the 2014 four nations tournament and defeated Australia in Wellington to claim not only the silverware but also the title of the world’s best team.
The following year they defeated Australia for the third consecutive time during the 2015 ANZAC Test, shifting the power of the rugby league world.
A 2-1 series loss to England in 2015 asked some questions before three losses to Australia in 2016, including a thumping in the four nations final, saw the Kiwis lose the number one ranking.
Over the past decade, New Zealand have been much more competitive during major tournaments than one-off matches, however, the off-field issues stemming from the Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor incident appear to be still having an impact on the team now.
It’s amazing how fortunes can change in less than 12 months. Just over a year ago New Zealand were ranked the number one team in the World and, all of a sudden, now find themselves under siege in a World Cup on home soil.
David Kidwell has made a stand of embedding the right ethics and culture into the Kiwi setup and that has led to him foregoing the services of some of his key personnel.
This sees the co-hosts go into this tournament with their backs against the wall.
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Team Line Up
1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Gerard Beale
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Kodi Nikorima
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Martin Taupau
9. Thomas Leuluai
10. Adam Blair (c)
11. Kenny Bromwich
12. Joseph Tapine
13. Simon Mannering
14. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
15. Russell Packer
16. Isaac Liu
17. Danny Levi
Squad Members: Addin Fonua-Blake, Peta Hiku, Te Maire Martin, Jason Nightingale, Elijah Taylor, Jared Warea-Hargreaves, Dean Whare
Most of the media focus to date has been on the players that are missing rather than those that form the side, although David Kidwell has still named a strong side that is capable of delivering the big one.
A lot will rest on the shoulders of established superstars such as Shaun Johnson, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Martin Taupau and Simon Mannering if the Kiwis are to progress far in this tournament.
Key Player
Shaun Johnson won’t only be the player to watch as a neutral, he’ll be the player that New Zealand’s hopes hang on.
The individual brilliance from Johnson can turn games and his performances in the black jersey have been some of the best of his career. Just look back at highlights of both the last RLWC and the 2014 four nations.
Johnson was the recipient of the Golden Boot as the best player in the world only a few seasons ago and even his harshest critics would agree that, when at his best, he is the most entertaining player in the game.
Fixtures and Opponents
All times AEDT
| Opponent | Venue | Kick-Off |
| Samoa | Mt Smart Stadium | Sat. Oct 28, 6:10pm |
| Scotland | Christchurch Stadium | Sat. Nov 4, 3pm |
| Tonga | Waikato Stadium, Hamilton | Sat. Nov 11, 3pm |
Key Match
Based on what I’ve written already, the match against Tonga is going to be an unmissable event for sports fans.
The choices made by certain players as to where their loyalties lie will ensure there is plenty of feeling within both camps. In terms of intensity, you can almost guarantee this will be one of, if not the most, brutal and physical games during the 2017 World Cup.
Players have let their feelings be known and this match will be the moment to let their action do the talking. The Kiwis will be intent to send out a message however, emotions aside, this match against Tonga may carry even more significance as, depending on other results, it could very well decide who tops Group B.
If you’re only a casual rugby league fan and planning to watch just a handful of games during this RLWC, make sure this mouth-watering clash is one of them!
RLWC 2017 Prospects
David Kidwell has set the standard he expects of those representing New Zealand both on and off the field and it appears the media storm created may have bought the Kiwi squad even closer together.
They have an undisputed record in tournaments held within the Southern Hemisphere for the past decade which can’t be ignored.
The Kiwi spirit and mana are likely to be on show during this World Cup and the ‘us against the world’ mentality that appears to be gathering momentum in camp is the perfect platform for a World Cup ambush to replicate the feats of 2008.
Zozza
Guest
Kearney isn't coach of the Kiwis you dopes.
Zozza
Guest
Not sure. But who can ever forget that hit on Willie Mason. If he cant coach, sometimes inspiration is enough when you have top rank players as cattle.
Zozza
Guest
Whare was injured but will be back next week.. Beale is now out with broken fibula suffered in the game tonight. Whare would always normally start ahead of Beale anyway.
Zozza
Guest
Tapine. Future superstar.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Leaning that way but let’s see how they go today first.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I agree with you that his moral stance is the right one but can he coach?
Renegade
Roar Guru
Very well thought out and written comment there Aem, hard to argue against too!
Renegade
Roar Guru
Agree with you scrum.... there wasn’t a more disappointing and underachieving side than the warriors this year.
Renegade
Roar Guru
They could end up finishing anywhere in pool B, but history shows they’ve performed better at the big tournaments.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Haha and OB is a roosters fan... I’m shocked Hargreaves made the squad this time!
Renegade
Roar Guru
Can’t disagree on Kidwell but the players are playing for a World Cup on home soil... you’d think it would mean something to them.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Because he isn't a very good player?
Aem
Guest
In most cases culture is just the buzzword excuse for failure. The Roosters apparently have had a culture problem twice over the last 6 seasons (the two years they went badly), but amazing that culture stuff didn't pop up when they were winning... lol. Frankly, I don't buy that 'culture' is the issue - straight up incompetence across several areas seems much more likely. Recruitment and retention. Youth systems. Coaching at first grade level. Perhaps even conditioning. Some of these the Warriors look like they are attempting to fix - but leaving Kearney in place is likely going to kneecap their efforts. Perhaps the next coach might inherit a better situation - it won't matter if he's not good, though. Kearney's just not a good coach. It was under his reign at Parramatta that the club was driven into the dirt (had only had 1 year missing the finals before he arrived, they had been yoyoing in and out of the top 8 for a few years until Kearney arrived - and he specifically targeted a number of those horrible signings that killed the club's cap in the short and mid-term), and the way he has run the Warriors team has been disgraceful... nattering on about "I'd bring guys in from reserves if I thought they could make a difference" - while the NRL team careened from loss to loss and the reserves finished 2nd in their comp. Then you consider the way he is demanding a play style that doesn't suit the players he has... silly stuff. On an individual level, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad typifies Kearney's horrible management at the Warriors... came in and immediately provided danger out wide (7 tries in 7 games, including 4 in his first 3 games), but was dropped as soon as Kata returned, despite Kata costing the Warriors a try per game on defence and generally being underwhelming on attack (not even going into his reluctance to pass...). CNK can't make a difference? Really? Albert Vete is the same... spent most of the year in reserves despite clearly being better than everyone at the club in his position short of Matulino and Gavet (who both missed significant numbers of games through injury). While we're looking at the props, the Sipley brothers being ignored (and now lost) is an absolute travesty - more so when you look at the alternatives at the club. This isn't a case of 'you can't keep them all', this is a case of guys the club needed being driven out by incompetence. I don't think you can judge him on the overall results over one year - but you can definitely judge him on how he's handled any number of individual things within that year - and the cumulative effect of those things... it doesn't look good. And his past results and actions reinforce that negative judgement, unfortunately...
Oingo Boingo
Guest
I think JWH ran 60 metres against the Cowboys in his last game , after gobbling off that he was going to dominate the Cowboys forwards . That along with the fact that he can be relied on to give the opposition at least two or three penalties per game , may give you an idea why he's going to be watching this game from the sidelines.
matth
Guest
Everyone seems to be writing the Kiwis off ..... and so am I.
Albo
Guest
Whilst New Zealand still has a handy side, I would think that Johnson & Taupau would have to have a couple of blinders in the finals for them to have any chance of upsetting the more fancied Aussies or England. Depending on how Tonga goes, they may even struggle to make the semi's ? I doubt that Kidwell can work any miracles to bring this side together to dominate the other fancies. Of the nominated side here for game 1, I would have Te Mare Martin at 6 instead of Nikorima & Whare in the centres instead of Beale.
Jacko
Guest
Does anyone know if Bromwich and proctor were able to play for another country??? As they werent suspended or punished officially. They were just told they would not be selected for the WC
Jacko
Guest
Paul that should suit Kearney because he appears to be a NO WIN sort of guy
DJ
Guest
Coaches are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Whilst coaches certainly influence outcomes eg., Wayne Bennett's involvement in the Kiwi's World Cup and Four Nation's the players are ultimately responsible for their individual and collective successes or failures Kidwell should be applauded for instilling discipline in a code notorious for drug and sex scandals. Future players tend to emulate their on-field heroes off the field and the standards and conventions within a club or organisation are predominantly a by-product of the incumbent coach's modus operandi and raison d'être It would be fair to surmise that Steve Hansen has been the most effective AB's coach in the history of the game because of his deeply-held conviction that humility and professionalism are desirable attributes National representatives are by default, role models to aspiring impressionable athletes and Kidwell has a moral obligation to protect the brand as well as the reputation and honour of the Kiwi jersey The rest is up to the players
Paul
Roar Guru
Kearney is in a no win situation. The side has a heap of Warriors players and the culture there is pretty bad. He then has to try and change the culture, using the World Cup as the means to do it. The timing sucks as do New Zealand's chances of winning the Cup.