Watching State of Origin on Wednesday night confirmed to me how hard Australia will be to beat at this year's World Cup, but also how big an advantage it is for their top players to be involved in such a tough series.
Australia automatically have a head start over the Kiwis because they get three tough games together and they lift to another level. It's something the NZRL needs to look at in the future, whether a game can be arranged at the same time, because we are already on the back foot and it's why the game against the Cook Islands a week before the tournament starts will be a crucial part of our preparations.
What Origin also highlighted for me is that desperation and character will win you the World Cup, not skill and finesse. By winning eight series in a row, Queensland have shown an amazing ability to lift and find something special when they need to. It helps that they have two or three players who will probably be made Immortals at the end of their careers and they know how to win games.
In saying that, all teams are vulnerable and Australia are beatable. Some of their players might also find it difficult to sustain a high level of performance for so long after Origin, the NRL playoffs and then the World Cup.
I'm really excited about the Kiwis' World Cup chances and, as a selector, this will be the most difficult side I have had to pick.