Impending new head coach Michael Maguire is the ideal man to right the ship at the Kiwis, according to two of his former cohorts.
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney and hooker Issac Luke have both given ringing endorsements of the Australian's imminent appointment as the team's new head coach.
New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) is expected to confirm the 44-year-old has won the job on Thursday, beating out the likes of Laurie Daley and Richie Barnett.
Luke was a critical cog in Maguire's NRL Premiership-winning Rabbitohs of 2014, and believes his "ruthless" approach is precisely what the Kiwis need after the World Cup debacle in November.
In fact, the 37-test international's first encounter with Maguire was an impression he won't soon forget.
Luke fielded a phone call from his newly signed coach following his near-suspension from the NZ Four Nations side in 2011, where he deliberately attempted to maim his cousin Rangi Chase, who was playing for England.
"He rung me straight away - I'd never met him, and he gave it to me," recalls Luke. "I thought 'oh he's our new coach so I better sharpen up my skills'".
Despite the uneasy beginning, the two developed a long-lasting relationship. Luke says Maguire played a huge part in helping him reach his potential, and he still texts his former coach to this day.
"I wouldn't say he's my mentor, but he's had a big part of the last six years of my life. He brought the best out of myself, Greg Inglis - all of the boys over there.
"He put a lot of the pressure on me because I was the one delivering the passes, and a lot of the set moves, I was running them.
"He brought a lot of good things to my game, and got me really fit. Alex Corvo's got me in that same shape."
When asked how he'd describe Maguire's coaching style, Luke momentarily reeled backwards before offering a few ominous words.
"Oh man," Luke laughs. "He's tough... he's tough. He's definitely going to bring a different attitude, a more ruthless attitude."
While he gave a definitive seal of approval for Maguire's addition to the NZ set-up, Luke's not getting ahead of himself after his shock omission from the World Cup squad.
"Personally I'd love to see him there, but then again I've got to try to make the team to be able to part of that too."
Kearney was a fellow assistant coach with Maguire alongside Craig Bellamy at the Melbourne Storm in 2004, and has no doubt he'll bring to the table exactly what the Kiwis need.
"I know Madge [Maguire] pretty well," said Kearney. "He's a quality coach and he knows what he's doing."
Maguire eventually departed the club in 2010 to take up the head coaching gig at hallowed English club Wigan, where he led them to a Super League title and was awarded Coach of the Year.
"He's very good to work with. He went away to Wigan, was very successful, came back and built a really strong culture at South Sydney.
"I think it's a positive step for New Zealand rugby league."
Maguire's first assignment will be the test against England in Denver next month.
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