''Over a period of time the guys have played very good cricket, and it's important we look back on that and draw a little bit from it."
A good bet would be a declaration at the start of the day.
New Zealand have taken heavy punishment from an Australian side intent on crushing the idea that their opponents will seriously threaten them in this series.
At stumps last night, Australia were 264 for four, having pushed a first innings advantage of 239 onto an overall lead of 503.
New Zealand may look up for assistance -- not so much THAT far up, but with storms forecast they might get a helping hand.
Still, they have been outplayed from the start and, save Williamson's stellar performance yesterday, have looked well off the pace in most respects.
Some hard thinking lies ahead in the coming days before the second test starts in Perth next Friday. Add in worries over Tim Southee's discomforting disc problems in his back and there is the risk this tour, so eagerly anticipated for so long, could go badly awry even before getting to the pink ball test in Adelaide at the end of this month.
"Tim will be available to bat in the second innings," New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said last night. "We'll continue to monitor his back and wait to see how he progresses in the coming days."
The good bit first. Williamson's 140 was an innings for which superlatives were flowing yesterday.
It was his 11th test century, eighth overseas, and a splendid performance laced with wonderful drives and vigorous cuts borne out of a fine technique.
For the first time in the match, New Zealand had something to relish, a player not only matching the Aussies but dominating them. In the process, he bumped his test average up to 47.02, the highest of any New Zealand player with 20 or more innings.
But Australia now know who they need to target in the rest of the series. On Williamson's slim shoulders rest so much of New Zealand's batting hopes in the next few weeks. That might have been anticipated; yesterday the proof was there for all to see.
It was seriously hot in Brisbane yesterday and New Zealand's bowlers wilted in the afternoon.
Joe Burns and David Warner, fresh from their 161-run stand in the first innings, simply cashed in. Second time around - a mere 237 in 37.4 overs -- it was far easier, and it's the first time Australian openers have shared two century stands in the same test.
''We thought we were doing very well when we came off for the rain break," Warner said.
''Steve (captain Smith) said to go a bit harder. I thought 30 overs none for 170 we were going allright," he quipped.
For Queenslander Burns, a maiden century followed three half centuries, and it was a doddle.
The man nicknamed Bugs Bunny for his love of carrots, which has produced a sponsorship deal for as many of the orange sticks as he can eat, got there with back-to-back sixes off Craig over long off.
Warner could see a second ton in the match from the time he bustled out to the middle and duly completed a double for the match. It is his third two-hundred test, joining Ricky Ponting and India's Sunil Gavaskar.
Warner had sympathy for New Zealand losing Southee but ''we can't worry about what is happening on their side of the field".
