The Kiwis have retained their spot in the Pacific Championship with a convincing 54-12 romp over Papua New Guinea in the promotion/relegation fixture at Sydney.
Debutant winger Casey McLean scored four tries, while Jamayne Isaako had a hattrick on the other wing, as New Zealand ran in 10 tries, seven of them converted by Isaako and — in his last appearance for the national team — veteran half Shaun Johnson.
After toppling world champions Australia with a record score to capture the Pacific crown last year, the NZ men could not make the final of the three-team format this time around, falling to the Kangaroos and Tonga, and being forced to face the Kumuls, winners of the bowl competition, to keep their place in the top echelon.
They were never challenged, with McLean and Isaako scoring the game's opening tries, before Sylvester Namo responded for PNG. Forward Leo Thompson and five-eighth Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad added two more tries for New Zealand to lead 22-6 at halftime, before McLean scored three in a row to extend the scoreline to 38-6.
A late call-up to replaced Will Warbrick on the wing, McLean, 18, was plucked from the Penrith Panthers reserves for his international cap and equalled the Kiwis record for tries on debut, set by Brian Jellick n 1999.
"It was a surreal experience," reflected McLean. "Being able to run out with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Shaun Johnson, Peta Hiku... people I'd idolised.
"At the start, I was a bit quiet and didn't know where I'd fit in, but all the boys let me in and I started to open up. Everyone got around me and gave me the confidence to do what I did today."
"I idolised [Johnson] since I was young and just being part of his career, and the legacy he has left behind for the Warriors, Sharks and Kiwis is a dream come true."
Fellow rookie Keano Kini, 20, again impressed in his third Test appearance, running for more than 300 metres from fullback.
Johnson, 34, had already hung up his boots at the end of the NRL season, when new Kiwis coach Stacey Jones summoned him back into the national team to cover a raft of injuries in the halves. He rolled back the years to perform a key role at halfback and celebrated his departure with the final conversion of the game — extending his Kiwis scoring record — with five minutes remaining.
"It's been a special night and it feels a little bit weird, knowing that it really is all done now," said Johnson. "It's been an awesome few weeks in camp with the boys and I'm pretty stoked I get to finish it this way.
"I couldn't have asked for a better night. We would rather have played in the big game, but we attacked tonight with the right attitude and I'm looking forward to getting in the sheds and enjoying a cold one with the boys.
"We're walking off the field with a smile, so stoked."
NZ Kiwis 54 (McLean 4, Isaako 3, Thompson, Nicoll-Klokstad, Whyte tries; Isaako 6 conversions, Johnson conversion) Papua New Guinea 12 (Namo, Derby tries; Martin 2 conversions)
SHARE ME