The Kiwis have got their revenge against Mate Ma'a Tonga, as Shaun Johnson and Brandon Smith steered them to a dominant 34-14 win at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday night.
Johnson - playing in his first game in Auckland since being released by the Warriors - showed fans what they're missing out on with a superb brace of tries.
Meanwhile, Smith had another outstanding game in the black jersey, as he was involved in everything in front of the vocal 23,624 fans in attendance.
Last time these two teams met, Tonga claimed a historic come-from-behind 28-22 win at the 2017 World Cup, which sent shockwaves through the rugby league world.
While only six Kiwis who played on Saturday were present for that clash 588 days ago, all the talk in the lead up was about redemption, and that is precisely what Michael Maguire's men got.
New Zealand outscored Tonga six tries to three, with Johnson and Smith being involved in four of them for the Kiwis.
Before the match, there was plenty of emotion, especially from the returning Benji Marshall, who - playing in first test since 2012 - was reduced to tears during the anthem.
After both nations laid down their pre-game challanges, it was Tonga started with a statement, as they weren't shy to throw the ball around with offloads and strong carries.
But it was the Kiwis who opened the scoring, when hooker Smith caught the Tongan defence napping to scoot over from dummy half.
Tonga began to build pressure with repeat sets attacking the Kiwis line, and their persistence was rewarded when out-of-favour Warriors centre Solomone Kata scored in the corner.
The match began to even out, but it was the Kiwis who were able to score next when Johnson threw a simple dummy and sliced through some lazy defence.
Then in the final minute before halftime, Johnson scored his second, which was almost a carbon copy as New Zealand led 16-4 at the break.
The Kiwis opened the scoring in the second stanza when Smith's grubber kick was cleaned up by Johnson for his third try of the night.
Tonga then enjoyed a wealth of possession as they continually put the Kiwis under pressure, but they failed to crack the line thanks to some desperation defence by the New Zealanders.
Once the Kiwis got the ball in good field position, they crossed for their fifth of the game when Jahrome Hughes scooted over in his international debut.
Centre Joseph Manu crossed shortly after for his second test try to ultimately put the result beyond doubt.
Despite the onslaught of points, the Tongan fans remained in full voice for the entire match, and they were rewarded with two consolation tries from Siosiua Taukeiaho and Daniel Tupou.
But it was the Kiwis and their fans who head home the happiest as they did their best to erase the painful memories from 2017.
Newshub.
