2008 World Cup heroics inspiring new era for Kiwis

A fresh wave of New Zealand talent is eager to carve out its legacy, aiming to echo the triumph of the 2008 World Cup.

By the time the tournament arrives next October, it will have been 18 long years since that victory, with many players in the current lineup too young to recall the historic win at Suncorp Stadium.

As the Kiwis prepared for the World Cup, coach Stacey Jones emphasized this goal throughout their successful Pacific Championships campaign, enlisting several 2008 champions to share insights about their remarkable upset against the Kangaroos.

Winger Casey McLean, who was only two years old during the 2008 win, noted that the motivational speeches fueled the team's ambition to forge their own historic moments.

The Kiwis are enjoying a surge of confidence following a strong performance in the Pacific Championships and have positioned themselves as the main contenders against the Kangaroos' dominance.