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IT'S almost un-Australian.
Akin to burnt snags, warm beer and wearing Crocs and only Speedos on Bondi Beach.
But man-up and admit it.
For a moment on Friday night, an absorbing 53-minutes to be precise, it felt bloody good to see the Kiwis taking it to the Kangaroos.
New Zealand's Jesse Bromwich scores a try. Source: News Limited
Why was that? Was it, because suddenly we cared about Test football?
Remember, this was the meaningless clash which all week, that nobody cared too much about.
Those same nobodies, including everyone except New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney, didn't give such a collection of untried, starry-eyed Kiwis, a chance.
Not to win the match, but a chance to score a try.
The World champions, the Kangaroos, were supposed to win by the length of the Royal Randwick straight.
Australia's Greg Bird scores a try. Source: News Limited
But even with the threat of the Harbour city being barred from hosting any further Test matches, the only question being asked all week was why bother turning up to witness a one-sided carve-up?
But it never happened.
In fact, New Zealand easily covered the 20-plus point start the TAB were offering right up until 8pm.
And that's a good thing.
The result, the decent crowd, even the fact that rugby league returned to one referee, delivered a huge relief for a code which has suffered a flurry of body shots, it seems, ever since the 2014 NRL season began.
New Zealand's Kevin Proctor in action. Source: News Limited
Anything less than a contest on Friday night, would have left NRL chief executive Dave Smith booking an appointment with a witch doctor this morning.
What with average attendances to begin the year, followed by the devastating injury to Alex McKinnon, the boycott of last night's Test by Kiwi Sonny Bill Williams and the sad end to Ryan Tandy's life, last night gave the game something to finally smile about.
The Kiwis should be happy too.
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They were outstanding in their commitment.
The performance of prop Sam Moa, fearless and dominating, would have even left his Roosters teammate and overlooked Kiwi, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, cheering.
Certainly, New Zealand were nothing without Shaun Johnson's first-half kicking game. Riding behind his clever and clinically directed kicks, the Kiwis stunned the Kangaroos early.
New Zealand celebrate a try. Source: News Limited
It was great to watch.
Kearney had told anyone that wanted to listen that the Kiwis would play with pride in their jumper.
In the end, it was with the same respect for their own green and gold jumper that lifted the Kangaroos towards their victory.
"We certainly knew it was going to be a tough game,'' Australian captain Cameron Smith said.
"I was glad to see we had a fairly healthy crowd here to see the match. I don't think any side let anyone down with the way we played.
New Zealand's Kevin Proctor in action. Source: News Limited
"It might have been a little bit scrappy, but that's Test match footy.
"It was tough, grinding through patches of the game. But at no stage did we think it was going to be a walkover.''
Tim Sheens' men weren't at their best.
That might be disrespectful to the courage and effort of their raw rivals, which featured six rookies and a dummy-half in Ben Henry, who had never played in that position before, but they did enough.
New Zealand's Martin Taupau is tackled by Australia's Cameron Smith and Paul Gallen. Source: News Limited
Or perhaps, the Kangaroos slow start, trailing 18-12 at halftime, was a by-product of Australia's spine, including Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith, bringing their struggling club form with the Melbourne Storm, into the Test arena.
Either way, it only added to the contest.
A contest, which supported by a vocal group of just over 25,000 fans, showed that perhaps, just maybe, Sydney does care about Test football.
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