After four years of being in the red, unable to beat or even get close to the Kangaroos, the Kiwis are back in black.
This was a spectacular 30-12 win and the margin, which was the biggest in almost a decade, could have been even greater with only poor finishing letting them down last night.
The famous "Kiwi" chant reasonated around Suncorp Stadium, bringing back memories of 1983, 1987, 2008 and 2010.
It was hard to pinpoint the more astounding statistic; 18 unanswered points to the Kiwis, or the Kangaroos not scoring a point after the 21st minute.
Australia were cruelled by injuries to Daly Cherry-Evans and Greg Inglis and were awful at times. But they were made to look awful. The New Zealand forwards terrorised their opposites and, with about 20 minutes to go, it felt like the Kangaroos had submitted.
"We were comprehensively beaten," said Australian coach Tim Sheens. "We got beaten everywhere. We started well but that's where it finished."
Captain Cameron Smith also had no excuses, and played down the impact of the injuries.
"We still had 15 Australian players out there tonight and that should have been enough. We didn't reach our standards tonight and they were a lot better."
There was so much to like about New Zealand's effort and endeavour, if not always the execution.
The Kiwis forwards were immense. Adam Blair rolled back the years to his 2010 vintage, Jason Taumalolo justified the hype and the Storm trio of Kevin Proctor, Tohu Harris and Jesse Bromwich were superb.
"It was a great performance," said Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney. "We played a style of football that was a Kiwi style of football."
The Kiwis had warmed up in the dark -- as former Cold Chisel guitarist Ian Moss played some 1980s tunes for the crowd -- and still looked like they were fumbling around as the game kicked off.
Gerard Beale dropped a bomb cold and Beau Scott strode through a gaping hole to score in the third minute. In the past, heads might have dropped.
A Shaun Johnson 40/20 sparked a revival and, after Jason Nightingale inexplicably bombed a try, Proctor showed great strength to wrestle through three defenders to score.
The Kiwis dominated the rest of the first spell and should have had more to show for their efforts but instead went to the break level 12-12. The Kiwis were steamrolling through the ruck and some of their play on the edges was superb. But, with Australia on the ropes -- they completed only four of their last 10 first-half sets -- New Zealand couldn't make them pay, continually taking the wrong fifth-tackle option.
Things began to click in the second half. After several opportunities, Johnson gave the Kiwis their first the shortly after a bullocking 50m run by Greg Eastwood.
Johnson evoked memories of Allan Langer's deeds on this ground, as he chipped and regathered, before stepping Dylan Walker to score. Four minutes Dean Whare leaped superbly to take a precise Kieran Foran kick.
The Kiwis were in dreamland -- 12 points ahead with 30 minutes remaining. Finally, after many more chances, Nightingale's try sealed the result with 12 minutes to play.
"I've dreamed of this moment since I was a kid," Foarn said. "It's only a stepping stone, we know we've got a lot of work to do yet, but I'm over the moon."
- By Michael Burgess of the Herald on Sunday, in Brisbane
New Zealand 30 (K. Proctor, L. Brown; S. Johnson, D. Whare, J. Nightingale tries; S. Johnson 5 gls) Australia 12 (B. Scott, G. Inglis tries; C. Smith 2 gls). Halftime: 12-12.
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