Last year's World Cup semi-final defeat to the Kangaroos still stings for NZ Kiwis coach Michael Maguire, who says there's "unfinished business" to his tenure.
The old rivalry reignited in the most spectacular way on a cold night in Leeds last November, as Australia edged their trans-tasman foes 16-14 to advance to the final, where they claimed their 12th title.
With his reappointment as coach confirmed on Tuesday by New Zealand Rugby League, Maguire says he's relishing the chance at another shot at glory.
"It was really a no-brainer to start with," Maguire told Newhub.
"I felt all sorts of feelings I suppose when the whistle blew (after the semi-final), but it wasn't to be.
"It's humbling to be back again. I'm really looking forward to regrouping with the players. It's a long time between chatting since the end of the World Cup. I'm grateful to the board for taking me on again."
Despite the heartbreak in England, Maguire's squad is in a much better place than when he took over in 2018, following the disastrous 2017 campaign and subsequent fallout.
But coming close isn't enough for the current crop and their coach.
"Definitely from my point of view it's unfinished business," Maguire said.
"I was there to get the win at the Word Cup, there was a lot of time invested from everyone in that.
"But that hasn't been lost. I know there's going to be some test matches at the end of the year and they're special times when you come together.
Revenge is firmly on Maguire's radar, he admits.
The Kiwis and Kangaroos will likely face off at the end of the year, as international rugby league returns to normal post pandemic.
And with only a handful of games likely between now and the next World Cup in France in 2025, every moment counts.
Maguire's keen to take the pain from the last campaign and turn it into fuel, as they prepare to go again.
"What you need to take out of it is the belief of what the boys have been able to achieve in a short period of time, then we go again and take that forward," Maguire explains.
"Some boys will get a bit older and transition at different stages, but the real core of the group are going to be together again.
"They've got to be able to utilise what we've been through over time to take forward and just the lessons."
He knows how close they were at the end, but it wasn't enough.
"It came down to literally moments in that game, and that's what a test match is all about.
"Whether you're playing Australia, Samoa, Tonga, England, France, whoever it might be, you have to take that moment in time.
"Definitely some unfinished business. I probably haven't been as gutted after a game. You don't get too many opportunities to coach a country and such a great group of people."
