In the 73rd minute of the 2022 semi-final, Jahrome Hughes tried to turn a New Zealand attack into a match-winning chance.
Jordan Rapana had broken through Valentine Holmes' tackle and helped launch a 60-metre line break, putting the Kangaroos under pressure.
With Australia defending 15 metres from its line, Hughes kicked on the second tackle, seeking to catch Mal Meninga's side off guard and send Peta Hiku over.
The makeshift winger could not ground the ball inside the field of play.
New Zealand went on to lose 16-14 to Australia in Leeds, England, and that missed opportunity has stayed with Hughes.
Although he scored a try and made a try-saving tackle on Kangaroos flyer Josh Addo-Carr, the NRL premiership winner has kept revisiting the defeat.
Now, four years later, the memory is driving Hughes' bid for World Cup revenge this month.