Kiwi squad country's greatest-ever

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HEADED by superstar Sonny Bill Williams, New Zealand will start their World Cup campaign tonight with a team coach Stephen Kearney rates as arguably the country's greatest-ever.

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The defending World Cup champions face Samoa in Warrington believing they can retain their title with a squad stacked with NRL stars. 

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Williams has to be one of the favourites to pick up the Golden Boot this year as the world's best player — and there isn't a better prop in the game than Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. 

Issac Luke is as good a hooker as New Zealand has produced, while Kieran Foran captained the Kiwis in the one-off Test earlier this year and is heading towards greatness. 

And on the size front, the Kiwis are in a world of their own with probably the biggest pack of forwards in the history of the sport. 

Kearney coached the Kiwis to their shock World Cup final win over Australia in 2008 and their Four Nations triumph in 2010. 

Asked if this was the strongest squad he's coached, Kearney said: "It would be one of. I think the quality of depth in the group is certainly one we haven't had before. And when you are not taking away a Jeremy Smith or a Benji Marshall, in the past that would have been a real issue, but I think with this squad it is not such a big issue." 

Kearney knows he's got a hell of a football team on his hands.

While he was heavily criticised initially for bringing Williams into the squad at the expense of Tohu Harris, we're about to find out why the decision certainly was in the best interests of New Zealand's fortunes at this tournament. 

Kearney wouldn't go into exactly what Sonny Bill said and why he changed his mind, but he said his influence on the team since arriving in the UK has been significant. 

"I know what Sonny is about and I know him as a person and I have done for a long time," Kearney said.

"We are fortunate that he is here with us. Everyone is well aware of what he offers on a footy field, but it is also his influences away from the field and his drive, as a player, is second to none."

League historian David Middleton pulled together a list of some of the best Kiwi teams we've seen, and how this squad goes against Australia will be what determines their standing. 

The Aussies might be the top seeds and favourites, but the Kiwis are the reigning champions and Kearney said competition for a place in the top squad will a great motivation. 

"I have got no doubt we have some talent in the group. It is a matter of making sure every time we play we are performing," Kearney said. 

"We have a squad of 24 and I can only pick 17 and they all understand and realise how hard it is to make the side so they have got to be playing well."

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