New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney wants Friday night's Centenary Test against Australia to signify the start of a new era in Kiwi rugby league and is prepared to build it around halfback Thomas Leuluai and not rely on superstar Sonny Bill Williams.

The rookie coach has been handed the difficult task of rebuilding New Zealand rugby league after last year's embarrassing 58-0 annihilation from Australia and a 3-0 series defeat to Great Britain.

Williams missed last year's humiliating tour with injury and is one of the key additions to the squad this season, but Kearney says it will take a committed performance from his entire team to reclaim international credibility with a victory at the SCG on Friday night.

"There is a real sense of history and we want to start this campaign and new era of Kiwi rugby league and create a bit of history ourselves," Kearney said.

But Kearney warned his men against relying on 22-year-old star forward Williams.

The Bulldogs second-rower has carved a remarkable reputation at NRL level but injury has thwarted his attempts to make a mark on the international stage, playing just six Tests since his debut in 2004.

Kearney believes the damaging ball runner is ready to take Test football by the scruff of the neck, but doesn't want his team to simply look for Williams to win them the game.

"Sonny can make his mark on any game he puts his mind to," Kearney said.

"That's a fair point that he hasn't played a great deal of international footy but I don't want us to be thinking Sonny is the saviour.

"He has 16 teammates out there who are going to be busting their arses to help him out.

"We all know there is a lot of damage that he can do (but) he needs some help with it."

A key to providing that help to Williams will be England-based halfback Leuluai, with Kearney throwing his full support behind the 22-year-old as he prepares for his 12th Test match.

Leuluai has been the understudy to Stacey Jones for several seasons but since the little master retired he now has a free run to secure the Test job outright.

"That was the real important reason to try and get Thomas back. I want to give him a real good opportunity to make that number seven jumper his," Kearney said of his fight with Wigan to release the player for this Test match.

"Stacey (Jones) was the holder of the jumper but was out injured and a lot of the blame went on Thomas when it probably should not have done.

"He's made a real impact (in training) with his leadership qualities. I was pleasantly surprised with his leadership and how much he had grown as a player."

Captain Roy Asotasi is confident last year's inept display won't be repeated.

"The boys have never looked sharper," Asotasi said.

"Last year all the players had a bad run of injuries and we missed a lot of key players and that affects the way the team goes.

"There were other issues (with the coach) that were there but that was 07 this is 2008 and we've got the right guys at the top.

"We've got all our players on board and the boys are looking a lot more confident.

"That first Test (in 1908) the Kiwis won and we would like to start our new era tomorrow night ... it's a rebuilding stage for us and we want to be successful for the next 100 years."

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