'We want to be favourites': How Maguire gave the Kiwis belief to become No.1

Michael Maguire has been telling his players for five years that they could be the best in the world and the Kiwis aren’t shying away from their No.1 ranking ahead of this weekend's World Cup semi-final against Australia.

While some in the Kangaroos camp have spoken out about the IRL World Rankings, in which Australia were fourth heading into the World Cup, New Zealand captain Jesse Bromwich said his side was comfortable about being labelled favourites.

After losing to Tonga and then being eliminated by Fiji in the quarter-final of the 2017 World Cup, the Kiwis have been working for five years under Maguire towards lifting the Paul Barrière Trophy for just the second time since the inaugural tournament in 1954.

New Zealand players admitted that last weekend’s 24-18 win against the Bati after trailing at half-time was a reminder of their spectacular fall from grace in 2017 and has sharpened their focus towards retaining their No.1 ranking by winning the World Cup final at Old Trafford.  

“I think all of the credit has to go to our coach, Michael Maguire,” Bromwich said. “I remember the first day he came in and him just talking about being the best in the world, constantly.

“At every meeting he spoke about being the best in the world. He was planting seeds in the boys’ heads and just making sure that we moved on from what happened at the World Cup in 2017.

“I am really proud of how far the team has come and obviously Madge and the coaching staff have done a terrific job.

"A lot of players have gone back to NRL level after playing for the Kiwis and really turned themselves into elite players of the competition.

“It is something we are all really proud of, and it is a place we want to be – the favourites – and to be able to call yourselves the best in the world after this competition would be very special.

“I think Madge has been talking about it for so long that we believe in what we are doing at the moment.”

Bromwich has added motivation after being banned from the 2017 World Cup by the NZRL over an off-field incident in Canberra after the mid-season Test against Australia.

The 33-year-old Dolphins-bound prop, who won three premierships with the Storm, also knows the World Cup is likely to be the last time he plays in England with the Kiwis.  

“Obviously, I made a mistake in the past, but I have worked really hard to get myself back in this position and it is something I am really proud of,” Bromwich said of regaining the New Zealand captaincy for the World Cup.

“With the COVID situation of the last few years I wasn’t sure that another World Cup was going to be possible for me and a couple of us other older fellows.

“It is a pretty crazy team to be a part of, and I am really grateful for the opportunity. It will probably be my last tour.”

With Joey Manu among the favourites to win the Golden Boot award after starring for the Kiwis at fullback, Brandon Smith at hooker and the halves pairing of Jahrome Hughes and Dylan Brown, many consider New Zealand’s spine to be the best they have ever fielded.

The Kiwis also have arguably the best forward pack in the world, with the availability of Bromwich, James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota, Joseph Tapine and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves giving Maguire the option of playing Nelson Asofa-Solomona on an edge.      

“If I look at the depth of the squad it is one of the strongest teams we have had in a long time,” Bromwich said. “I think especially our spine players. Those guys have really taken over at NRL level the last few years.

“I just think the longer the tournament goes the better we will gel together. We don’t have State of Origin, so we don’t get a lot of games together.”

If the Kiwis win the World Cup, Bromwich said Maguire deserved much of the credit for his work over the past five years, along with the coaching staff, which includes Kiwis greats Stacey Jones and Thomas Leuluai, Sharks assistant Steve Price and new Panthers assistant Ben Gardiner.

“He has been constantly in contact with all of the boys, and always offering support and a different perspective on how you are playing at your club,” Bromwich said.

“He has been a really good coach for us at a Kiwis level and I don’t really recall any other coach constantly talking about being the best in the world. I know we have got a really good group of guys who are willing to play hard for each other.”