It would be the first time since the early 1950s that the Kiwis have put three wins together against Australia back-to-back. New Zealand have beaten Australia in three consecutive Tests only once – in 1952-53 (in fact, they won four in a row at that time).

Australia and New Zealand have been engaged in Test match football since 1908.

The Kangaroos and the Kiwis are easily the top-ranked nations in international rugby league.

Australia has won 95 and drawn 3 of the 129 Tests played between the two nations but the Kiwis have raised their standards dramatically over the past decade.

If New Zealand win today, they will have the opportunity to assume the number one ranking by defeating England in the Test series in the UK later in the year.

Interestingly though, the Kiwis have not won a mid-season Test match against Australia since 1998.

Four of their last five wins over Australia have been in major finals – the 2005 Tri-Nations final; the 2008 World Cup final; the 2010 Four Nations final and last year's 2014 Four Nations final. A third consecutive Test match victory today though will represent a unique slice of history in this great rivalry.

Postponement decision was correct — but conditions were perfectly safe to play football

Right from the top let me say that I absolutely agree with the postponement of Friday night's Test; however, it is totally ridiculous to suggest that the overriding factor in making this decision was the issue of player welfare. Why do they have to fabricate this stuff?

It was all about the difficulty of fans getting to the game, the prospect of a smaller crowd and the spectacle of the event. It had little or nothing to do with player welfare. Please. Officials are setting an unnecessary precedent if they start suggesting that wet playing conditions are a risk to player safety.

Our game has been played in significantly worse conditions and on playing surfaces far more rain-affected than  we witnessed on Friday night. Just a few weeks ago we saw a great game of football in cyclonic conditions at Cronulla when the Sharks defeated the Rabbitohs.

It was all good to keep playing then. There was nothing at all wrong with the playing conditions at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night. The players would have easily coped. They train and play in these conditions all the time. Put it this way, if that was a Wednesday night Origin match, would they have postponed? I think not.

I could give you a history lesson on matches played in worse weather. If player welfare is such a huge concern, then let me tell you that scheduling early season games in daytime conditions in western Sydney where the temperatures hit 40 degrees is far worse for player welfare and even fan comfort than what we experienced in Brisbane on Friday night.

We have repeatedly requested that the NRL not schedule daytime games in March in western Sydney. Every year we are ignored. Player welfare and fan comfort doesn't rate a mention in that scenario.

Anyway, having said all that, given the awful weather, local flooding and public transport chaos that prevailed in the hours before kickoff on Friday night, it was only sensible that the game be delayed until today.

The officials were absolutely correct and should be applauded for their decision. But please, don't cite player welfare as the major issue, otherwise we will be seeing a lot more postponements in the future, or officials will run the risk of being criticised for not considering player welfare when situations are compared with the Brisbane experience.

As a sideline to this, I did notice that the sponsors' logos painted on the playing field had been pretty much  washed away by the torrential rain. Surely not?

It's time to let go of this extraordinary group of footballers

We have just come through a wonderful era in the rich history of the Kangaroos and the outstanding men who have represented in our national colours. The core group of our Australian Test squad have been together for years now. They are truly great, great players and I have loved watching them play. They have been brilliant.

However, it is fast approaching the right time to let go. Have a look at these International playing records:

Johnathan Thurston (32):

Tests 31 (2006-14), World Cup 2008, 2013; Four Nations tourist 2009, 2011

Cooper Cronk (31):

Tests 25 (2007-14), Four Nations tourist 2009, 2011, World Cup 2013

Cameron Smith (31):

Tests 41 (2006-14), 19 Tests as captain (2007-14); World Cup 2008, 2013; Four Nations tourist 2009, 2011; Captained Australia to World Cup victory 2013

Billy Slater (31):

Tests 25 (2008-14), World Cup 2008, 2013, Four Nations tourist 2009, 2011

Paul Gallen (33):

Tests 31 (2008-14), World Cup 2008, 2013, Four Nations tourist 2009, 2011

Greg Bird (31):

Tests 16 (2007-14), World Cup 2013

Corey Parker (32):

Tests 11 (2011-14), Four Nations tourist 2011, World Cup 2013

Justin Hodges (32):

Tests 13 (2006-13), Four Nations tourist 2009

Luke Lewis (31):

Tests 15 (2009-13), Kangaroo tourist 2003, Four Nations tourist 2009, 2011, World Cup 2013

It's a remarkable group of footballers and they have served us so well  for many years. However, we have to move on. We have to start putting trust in a younger brigade and building our new team for the next World Cup.

We will still have several great senior players to lead us through to the next era.

Greg Inglis is 28 and Matt Scott, Sam Thaiday and Nate Myles are all 30 this year; these guys can provide the leadership over the next 18 months or so during an important transition period.

They have come through their time under the mentorship of their older teammates. Now it's time for them to assist in bringing through the new era. However, it won't be that long before we are looking for replacements for these guys as well.

What is also amazing is that 10 of the 13 players I have listed above are also Queenslanders. The long-term success of the Queensland Origin team has meant members of this winning state side have dominated selections in the Australian team for the past six-to-eight seasons.

As Queensland sets about the task of rejuvenating its Origin squad, Australia needs to do the same.

DWZ's time will come

I am extremely proud of our young Panther Dallin Watene-Zelezniak this week for the way he accepted his judiciary penalty that meant he would miss out on making his Test debut for New Zealand. DWZ was charged with a low-grade dangerous throw offence, but with loading for a previous non-related judiciary charge, it meant that accepting a guilty verdict would automatically cost him his place in the National team.

DWZ called me to ask if he should fight the charge. I said that our club would support him at the judiciary and offer a defence to the charge. I did say, however, that I believed he stood virtually no chance of success and that we probably risked our credibility in trying to defend a case we know we can't really win. DWZ then said, "Yes, I agree. It would also affect my team's preparation for the Test match while they wait around to see if I can successfully defend the charge at the judiciary. That's not fair on them." It was very difficult for him given how much making his debut for NZ means to him and his family. His mature and unselfish acceptance of the one-week suspension speaks volumes for the character of this young man. I dare say  it's only a matter of time before he makes that Test debut.

It's not going to be easy

On the international scene, the New Zealand boys should really be looking to take advantage of this situation. So too should the NSW Blues in the interstate rivalry.

I see a new and potentially great NSW team emerging in the very near future. As soon as they can sort out a regular halves pairing I think the rest of the squad is developing nicely.

But NSW also needs to cut ties with a few of their senior players and place some trust in emerging talent.

Phil Gould is the general manager of the Penrith Panthers

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