After being the dominant team in international Rugby League during 2014-2015, the Kiwis were brought back to earth in 2016 with a less than memorable year with just one win and one draw from six matches.

A change of head coach in September and the loss of experienced players to injury, forced the Kiwis into blooding some new talent and try different combinations in 2016

The fact that the North of England has not been a happy place for the Kiwis to visit since 2005 was never going to help the New Zealanders’ campaign either.

The trials of 2016 will not be in vain however, with a number of players and officials (including new coach David Kidwell) to learn from the experience and be better placed to capitalise in 2017.

With Kieran Foran and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck likely to be available for World Cup selection, plus all their pool games plus any quarter and semi-final matches to be played on home soil, this Kiwis’ chances will certainly be boosted.

Pool B in next year’s World Cup is set to be one of the most fiercely contested after Scotland showed that they will be coming to New Zealand to play in 2017.

After strong performances against England and New Zealand in the Four Nations, the Bravehearts will be backing their chances to qualify for the finals in next year’s tournament despite drawing the Kiwis, Tonga and Samoa all in the same pool.

New Zealand, previously clear pool favourites, have looked vulnerable in their last starts against Samoa and Scotland, winning by two points and then drawing.  With both teams, plus Tonga to be able to draw upon more eligible players than any previous World Cup, an upset will be a real possibility.

With all four teams arguably so evenly matched, this is one pool where every game will matter in determining who misses out on qualifying for the World Cup Finals.

It is easy to forget that back in 2008 that when Wayne Bennett joined Stephen Kearney in helping ‘transform’ the Kiwi side, that the New Zealanders lost their opening two fixtures under their new coach 28 – 12 and 30 – 6 to Australia. 

At the time, many thought that not even Wayne Bennett could help the Kiwis discover their potential, and wrote them off in the tournament.  Remarkably however, just a month after losing 30 – 6 to the Kangaroos, the Kiwis were holding aloft the Paul Barrière trophy.

England, just like New Zealand back then, is no different, and will take time to adjust under the coaching style of Wayne Bennett. 

Following less than ideal results in England, Wayne has already put steps in place to help his side gel. From a pre-season camp in the UK next February around the World Club Series, to a mid-year Test against Samoa, the England side that runs out at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on 27 October 2017 will be different than the one that ran out at London Stadium during the recent Four Nations.

It’s amazing to believe, but Australia has not won a major Rugby League tournament at home since 2006, when they defeated the Kiwis 16 – 12 in extra time during the Tri-Nations event

In the past decade, the Kangaroos have lost to the Kiwis in the 2008 World Cup Final, plus the 2010 and 2012 Four Nations Finals, with their only silverware coming from the United Kingdom.

This is a remarkable stat that Mal Meninga and the current Kangaroos squad will be desperate to address, and is why Meninga is working to improve the professionalism of the Australian team both on and off the field.  

This year’s Four Nations campaign was phase one of his plans, however it will be interesting to see if the other nations let Phase Two get successfully rolled out.

Whilst the focus at this year’s Four Nations was on current participant, Scotland, it is important to note that the previous entrants of Wales, Samoa and Papua New Guinea have all been improving ready for next year’s World Cup as well.

The original invitee to the Four Nations, France, will head into the 2017 World Cup with its largest playing pool in years.  Following the entry of the Catalan Dragons into Super League a decade ago, there is now a healthy group of French players running around at a number of Super League and Championship clubs, with more on their way with Toulouse qualifying for the Championship in 2017 and the Catalans adding a Reserve and Academy side.

Wales have also shown that a heavy investment in domestic talent is starting to pay off, with the Dragons showcasing their ability to not only match it, but defeat the likes of France, Ireland, Scotland and Italy in recent times.  In what will be the Dragons first Southern Hemisphere World Cup since 1975, expect the Welsh to not hold back.

Whilst Pacific nations, Samoa and Papua New Guinea, have enjoyed year-on-year fixtures since their last World Cup appearance, plus access to more players than ever before.