Dane Gagai is on the cusp of a world sporting first, but the ageless New Zealand centre could be beaten to the punch by a matter of hours.
A World Cup winner with the Kangaroos in 2017, Gagai stands to be the first person to win their sport's pinnacle event with two different countries if the Kiwis beat the hosts in Brisbane on Sunday.
Soccer player Louis Monti narrowly missed the feat when he lost and won successive World Cups, with Argentina and Italy, almost 100 years ago.
No player, in any professional sport, has come that close since.
But incredibly it could happen twice on the same night, with Kiwi Ferns prop Shannon Mato chasing back-to-back women's titles after lifting the last Cup with Australia.
Approaching his 36th birthday, the veteran of 16 NRL seasons and 23 State of Origin games for Queensland is poised to make history at Suncorp Stadium.
"He's just a big game player; what he done in Origin his whole career and what he's doing now at this age," Joseph Tapine said of Gagai.
"I don't know how he's moving like that still, he's a freak.
"When the pressure gets high, he lifts to that and that's what you want."
Coach Stacey Jones has former World Cup winning player and coach Adam Blair and Stephen Kearney on his staff and has invited former players into camp during the tournament.
But he said Gagai's influence had been just as influential on the hunt for their first title since 2008.
"He's been unreal, Gags," Jones said on Thursday.
"Excited to put on the black and white jersey and represent his mother's side of the family and his experience to the group's been unbelievable."
Australia pipped New Zealand 24-22 in their World Cup opener, with the hosts escaping thanks to several tries against the run of play.
"Moments hurt us and they took their opportunities," Jones said.
"But both teams have improved a lot since then."
Tapine thinks the addition of Gagai and inspirational fullback Kalyn Ponga, plus the kicking prowess of winger Jamayne Isaako, had transformed a side that always held their own up front.
"I always rated our forward pack but with people like that, with the skill and toughness ... you have to start using that word when talking about KP," Tapine said.
"And Jamayne, when you score you know it's usually a six-pointer cause he can slot them from everywhere.
"It's a special group and this is my third Cup, it's my last chance and I'm going out to give it my all to put our names in history."
Australian Associated Press
