League: Previous false dawns but wins cast a new light

Back-to-back wins over Australia were achieved by a relatively young Kiwis team. Photo / Getty Images

A Kiwis squad packed with rising young stars means a shiny new era might at last be upon us, writes Michael Burgess.

Talking about golden eras or new dawns with the Kiwis is always fraught with danger but this time it feels different.

There have been many famous wins over the Kangaroos - accompanied by all sorts of optimistic predictions about the future - only for the teams and fans to be brought back to Earth as the Australians quickly and savagely reassert their traditional dominance.

Last Saturday's victory in the Four Nations final marked just the second time in more than 60 years the Kiwis had posted consecutive wins over the Kangaroos. Apart from successive triumphs in 1997-98, every other victory in the past three decades was followed by misery. The average losing margin of the next transtasman test was 17 points and a winless drought that averaged almost six matches.

This time, it should be different - and there are a few compelling reasons why.

Firstly, this Kiwis team will grow together. The likes of Jason Nightingale, Manu Vatuvei and Adam Blair (all 28) might have slipped out of the picture by the 2017 World Cup but the 17 who took the field in the Four Nations final had an average age of 25. Young players such as Jason Taumalolo, Tohu Harris, Martin Taupau and Dean Whare should only get better, Kieran Foran and Shaun Johnson have the potential to be the greatest Kiwis halves pairing and who knows how good Roger Tuivasa-Sheck could become at fullback?

Of course, the Australians are not going to disappear off a cliff. Johnathan Thurston will make a massive difference, as will the Morris twins and a platoon of absent forwards. But so much of the Kangaroos' recent success has been anchored around Thurston, Cameron Smith and Billy Slater and that trio can't go on forever.

The Kiwis have regained their culture, belief and mana (missing during the 2011 Four Nations and 2013 World Cup) and the pride has returned to the jersey. Stephen Kearney's coaching stocks have never been higher and Simon Mannering is established as skipper.

There's also a commitment to play more tests in New Zealand, which could mean a more even distribution of Anzac tests.

The last great breakthrough was the 2005 Tri Nations final, won 24-0 by the Kiwis. But Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki and Nigel Vagana retired the following year and coach Brian McClennan went to the Super League. There were some close encounters (especially the 2006 Tri Nations final in Sydney) but the Kangaroos still won the next eight matches.