League: Three questions

Lewis Brown of New Zealand celebrates a try with team mates during the Four Nations Rugby League match. Photo / Getty

Herald sport writers Michael Burgess and David Skipwith answer three questions about Saturday night's League test in Brisbane.

1. How significant is last night's 30-12 victory?

Michael Burgess: It's extremely significant. When the game kicked off last night only a handful of Kiwis on the field (six of the 17 man squad to be exact) had been in a team that had beaten Australia. Plenty of others, including relatively experienced names like Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson and Jesse Bromwich had only known the bitter taste of defeat. It's great to play well against the Kangaroos but to beat them can be career defining; this was an important hurdle for the current generation.

David Skipwith: The Kiwis have every right to be thrilled with their performance but it was pleasing to hear the players and coach Stephen Kearney keeping a level head about the nature of the win.

They know they need to build on that effort and show consistency over the next three weeks to go on with the job. A win in week one won't mean anything if they full short at the business end of the tournament.

The fact the Kangaroos were missing some of their key veterans and had injury problems can't be forgotten but the Kiwis were the better team throughout and dominated across the park.

2. Where does this win rank amongst other Kiwis victories?

Michael Burgess: Any win over the Australians is special - especially on their home turf. This victory may not be as celebrated as the major finals wins in 2005, 2008 and 2010 but the manner of this win stands out. The Kiwis were behind twice in the first quarter, won the arm wrestle in the first half and then played some absolutely imperious football in the second half.

David Skipwith: After four long years without a win over the Australians the Kiwis turned in a memorable performance to claim their biggest victory in almost a decade.

Rarely do you see players like Greg Inglis or Michael Jennings forced into errors while up front the Kiwis pack overwhelmed their opposites to leave them rattled and scrambling to respond.

The emphatic nature of the victory underlines the potential of this Kiwis side but how well this test is remembered might yet be defined by how they follow it up in the coming weeks.

3. Where will the Kiwis look to improve?

Michael Burgess: Despite the scoreline and a five try display, their execution was often below par. On too many occasions the Kiwis failed to make the most of great field position and territory, and the game should probably have been killed off before the 69th minute, such was their outstanding dominance of the ruck area.

Fifth tackle options were average at best; some kicks led to tries but many others were wasted, and they only forced one repeat set in the entire match. That didn't cost them last night but could on another occasion.

David Skipwith: With many of the Kiwis not having played any football for six weeks they were sluggish early on before warming into their work towards the end of the first quarter.

They got better as the match continued and finished all over the Kangaroos on the back of a brilliant second-half defensive effort.

New Zealand will be better for the hit-out and can take enormous confidence from the win while their combinations and timing will only get better in the games ahead.

Issac Luke's return to the side will also add another dimension to their attack and give them more creativity around the ruck.