Kevin Proctor. Photo / Patrick Hamilton
Kevin Proctor clearly remembers the day the Kiwis' culture changed for the better.
The second rower, who has been one of the cornerstones of the team's astounding success over the past 18 months, pinpoints the 2014 Anzac test campaign as a stake in the ground for the New Zealand side.
After the disappointment of the 2013 World Cup, the squad knew something needed to change to realise their potential.
Before that match the team were hit by a slew of injury withdrawals but coach Stephen Kearney also omitted several high-profile players, hoping to shake up the team environment. There were several frank, brutally honest meetings and a course was set.
"Everybody bought in to what we were trying to do and that culture that we were trying to build," said Proctor.
"We were 10-1 outsiders and had guys from NSW Cup and Tohu [Harris] playing five eighth but we went out there with so much belief. We led Australia at halftime and were disappointed to lose ... it definitely felt like a breakthrough and we have gone on from there."
Proctor's first international experience was the 2011 Four Nations campaign, a disappointing tour with only a single victory over Wales.
"Every Kiwis camp is enjoyable but it's probably a bit more enjoyable now," said Proctor. "The culture was a bit different ... the older guys back then were a little bit different to the older guys now. Definitely now everyone is welcomed into the group and everyone is on the same level ... no one is bigger than anyone else here."
Proctor has come a long way fast. He didn't play a game on that 2011 tour, then missed selection for the 2013 World Cup. Now he is one of the first picked in every squad, a relentless worker on attack and defence.
It's quite an achievement for someone who didn't play league until he was 15 years old, and only because he couldn't find a rugby club when his family relocated to the Gold Coast.
"I was big on rugby ... a proper one-sided, hated league kind of guy," he said. "There wasn't much league in Te Kuiti when I was growing up."
Proctor joined the Tugun Seahawks to play with his mates and after a few games was spotted by the Storm and offered a scholarship.
There was a steady progression since then, though he shakes his head when asked about reaching 150 NRL games this year.
"Mate, I didn't know if I would get to 50 games in my career," said Proctor. "At that time there were so many guys ahead of me in that position; Adam Blair, Ryan Hoffman, Michael Crocker, Sika Manu, Jeremy Smith ... it was quite a line."
Last year there was a prolonged bidding war for his services - with the Roosters and Raiders dangling big money deals - and he has become a fixture for club and country.
"I love playing with him," said Jason Nightingale. "He's massive for us. He's constantly talking on the field and is definitely a team first kind of person."
Proctor will be a key figure next Monday morning NZT in the first test in Hull, against a formidable English pack anchored by James Graham and George Burgess. "We'll need to take some tough runs and dig deep if we want to get this side because they are full of quality players," said Proctor.
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