Opinion: All to play for in next Anzac test for Kiwis

Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith, left, and his Kiwis opposite, Simon Mannering. Photo / NZME.

For the first time in a long time I'm actually looking forward to the Anzac test.

New Zealand has only won the annual rugby league test once (1998) since it began back in 1997.

As the years and losses have ticked by, I have slowly lost interest (and hope) in the match, while Australian fans have grown in arrogance.

But this year things look to be different. It has all the ingredients for a match that will actually matter, and hopefully bring out the best in the Kiwis.

The first ingredient is controversy.

News came out at the weekend that the Anzac test later this year would not be held at Eden Park in Auckland but would rather be staged in Australia, most likely at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

An absolute outrage.

New Zealand has hosted the test only twice since it started, including our solitary victory in 1998.

But controversy can often help fuel the occasion.

It gives the Kiwis one more good reason to take down the Aussies.

The second ingredient is form.

The Kiwis are coming off two consecutive victories over Australia.

If New Zealand win this test - which for so long has been dominated by Australia - they will have to be considered the best in the world.

And the third ingredient is history.

There is plenty of pride and history behind this match in 2015, which is being held during the 100-year anniversary of the Anzac landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey.

So, in terms of matches to look forward to, this one should be near the top of the list for league fans in New Zealand. Let's just hope the NRL injury list does not include too many Kiwis early on in the season.