OPINION: The Kiwis will kick off their Rugby League World Cup campaign against Lebanon on Monday morning, chasing their second title, and it's fair to say previous endeavours have been rollercoasters in their own right.
The disappointment and subsequent fallout of 2017, where they lost to Fiji in the quarterfinals at Wellington... the emotion of the dramatic 2013 campaign, where a Shaun Johnson try in the final minute against England at Wembley secured them a place in the final, only to be dismantled by Australia.
So, how is this World Cup shaping up for the men in the black-and-white jersey?
The squad
By picking a squad for the June test against Tonga and signalling his intentions even before then, coach Michael Maguire has avoided the headache Australian counterpart Mal Meninga has had to endure, with players dropping out late and choosing to play for other nations.
The spine is this side's obvious strength, with Joseph Manu at fullback, Jahrome Hughes and Dylan Brown in the halves, and Brandon Smith at hooker.
Throw in their monster forward pack, including NRL Grand Final winners James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota, as well as veterans Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jared Waerea Hargreaves, and they're in pretty good shape.
The tough task will be keeping players in shape through the easier pool games, and getting everyone firing for the quarterfinals and hopefully beyond. They can't afford anyone to go missing in the big games.
The challenge
Cast an eye over the potential games at the business end of the tournament and you'll see the Kiwis are on course for a semi-final showdown with the Kangaroos at Leeds.
Yes, there's no chance the trans-Tasman rivalry will ignite the final. One of these two Goliaths will be disappointed.
The key then for this side will be overcoming the mental obstacle that comes for all NZ teams, when they take on the old foe. That said, the likes of Smith, Asofa-Solomona and captain Jesse Bromwich are unlikely to be daunted at the prospect of tackling the Kangaroos.
They have no reason to fear. The team is good enough and they have every chance of going all the way.
The coach
Relieved of his duties at Wests Tigers in June, Maguire's focus has been zeroed in on the Kiwis campaign. You can see in his eyes how bad he wants this.
He's big on culture and standards - two essential ingredients at a World Cup.
"I still haven't seen him smile yet - did someone take a photo of it?" halfback Hughes quipped earlier this week.
"He has got us really prepared and he's holding us to high standards, and that's going to make us better as a team."
Maguire won't be afraid to make the big calls and pull players into line, when he feels necessary. Backed by senior players, there's plenty of leadership throughout the squad.
James Regan will cover the Rugby League World Cup for Newshub. Check out the Rugby League World Cup live on Spark Sport or free-to-air on Three, or join us at 7:30am Monday for live updates of the Kiwis v Lebanon pool encounter
