As if the Kiwis needed any extra motivation heading into this weekend's Rugby League World Cup semi final against Australia, tournament organisers have provided all the inspiration they need.
They've reportedly already booked the NZ team on a flight home after the match, while the Aussies have a reservation at a Manchester hotel for a final they're not in yet.
Suffice to say, the Kiwis are NOT happy.
If they have a hangover from their shaky quarter-final performance, they certainly didn't show it at training - laser focused on a do-or-die semi and trying to ignore news their trip home to New Zealand is already booked.
Veteran winger Jordan Rapana can see the funny side.
"They'll probably lose some money, when they find out they have to reschedule it on Saturday," he laughed.
Captain Jesse Bromwich isn't quite as amused.
"It was pretty disrespectful," he said. "For it to be published like that, it's not on I reckon.
"We spoke about it as a group."
Bromwich is adamant it won’t provide any extra motivation. The prospect of facing their fiercest rivals for a spot in the World Cup final does more than enough to stoke the fire.
"For us, as proud Kiwis, I think that's the main thing," he said. "Making our families and our fans back home really proud."
Said Rapana: "We have a belief that we can go out and win this thing."
They'll need a serious lift in performance. Bromwich reveals the stumbling display against Fiji prompted one of the biggest verbal sprays he's ever seen delivered by coach Michael Maguire.
"He's a real passionate sort of coach, he was pretty fired up and it was good to see, because as a team, we felt it was pretty unacceptable, the way we started the game," said Bromwich.
Said Rapana: "If we want to be genuine contenders for this World Cup title, we can't play the way we did against Fiji against Australia."
As always, when they face their old rivals, the standard is higher, as are the stakes.
Catch the Rugby League World Cup live on Spark Sport and free-to-air on Three, or join us at 7:45am Saturday for live updates of the NZ Kiwis v Australia semi-final
