Michael Maguire's ability to turn around an under-performing team has played a key role in his appointment as the first non-New Zealander to coach the Kiwis.
The 44-year-old Canberra native will take over a New Zealand team still reeling from last year's disastrous World Cup campaign, where they lost to Tonga and were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Fiji.
Today's announcement in Auckland was signalled earlier in the week, and followed an independent review into the World Cup campaign and New Zealand Rugby League's high performance programme.
Maguire reportedly edged former NSW State of Origin coach Laurie Daley, and NRL coaches Des Hasler and Geoff Toovey, in securing the position after impressing the interview panel of former players Dean Bell and Monty Betham, ex-Kiwis coach Frank Endacott and former Silver Ferns mentor Waimarama Taumaunu.
Maguire's record at South Sydney, where he ended a 43-year drought in winning the 2014 NRL premiership, offers a glimmer of hope as the Kiwis look to rebuild.
He took over at the Rabbitohs in 2012, needing only two years to guide South Sydney to their first premiership title since 1971.
Maguire's team went on to win the Auckland Nines and World Club Challenge titles in 2015, finishing seventh and again making the NRL play-offs that year.
But the Rabbitohs couldn't make the top eight in 2016 and 2017, last year managing just nine wins to finish 12th - four points and one place ahead of the Warriors.
Michael Maguire and South Sydney parted ways last year. Photo: Photosport
Maguire paid the price, sacked at the end of the season, and has since been working as a high-performance coach with NRL referees.
He has limited time to prepare before the Kiwis' first test of the year, against Wayne Bennett's England at Mile High Stadium in Denver as rugby league looks to gain a toe-hold in the lucrative United States market.
Maguire, who spent four years as assistant coach at Melbourne Storm, will have a couple of familiar faces available again as former Kiwis captain Jesse Bromwich and Kevin Proctor return from their World Cup selection ban after last April's cocaine bust in Canberra.
