New Zealand rugby league coach Stephen Kearney doesn’t believe in atonement.
Saturday’s Four Nations final 22-18 victory over Australia in Wellington doesn’t mean the Kiwis have attained redemption.
Not for last year’s 34-2 World Cup defeat to Australia, and not for this year’s 30-18 loss in the Anzac Day Test.
A composed four-try performance, including a brace to powerhouse wing Manu Vatuvei, gave the Kiwis their first back-to-back wins over Australia in 60 years.
But Kearney is focused more on looking to the future than on trying to avenge the past.
“There are some positive signs for us, but it’s not about making up for last year’s loss,” he said.
“We’ve moved on from that. We set out right at the start of the season looking ahead to the next World Cup and making selections with that in mind.”
He points to players like 20-year-old lock Jason Taumololo, or 24-year-old Martin Taupau as the way of the future.
Taupau played an impressive role off the bench in the Four Nations final, until he was forced from the field with a neck injury five minutes into the second half.
The West Tigers prop was later discharged from hospital with a clean bill of health, and Kearney says his effort exemplified the Kiwi effort off the bench.
“I think our bench has been fantastic the whole tournament. Marty tonight, he was a wrecking ball out there,” Kearney said.
“He continued the momentum, and I thought Greg Eastwood did the same. Tohu Harris, he just keeps getting the job done and I thought Lewis Brown did a great job again tonight.
“It’s a good sign for us.”
Kearney says Saturday’s win set a new standard for the Kiwis as they take a long-term look ahead to the 2017 World Cup.
“They’ve got to remind themselves now that that’s the benchmark. When guys return to the group, or new guys get brought into the group, they have to live up to these standards.”
There’s no doubt the team aren’t getting too carried away, either.
Playmaker Shaun Johnson, asked if the Kiwis regarded themselves as the No.1 team in the world now, was clear.
“No, I don’t think we’re looking at it that way at all,” he said.
“We’re Four Nations champs – that’s good enough for me.”
