If this is a taste of what is to come, rugby league fans are in for a treat over the next month.
Australia and New Zealand have thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the World Cup after serving up an instant classic in Thursday's opener.
This dramatic contest had all the hallmarks of a dress rehearsal for next month's final in Brisbane.
The challenge has been laid down to the likes of England, Tonga and Samoa from the very first game.
While all three nations are capable of reaching the latter stages of the tournament, the bar has been set extraordinarily high by the traditional big two.
A sell-out crowd of 41,255 at the Allianz Stadium – Sydney's best Test attendance since 1974 – were treated to one of the great World Cup games.
There were thrilling tries from global superstars Kalyn Ponga and Reece Walsh, a hat-trick for Australian debutant Jack Bostock and a scoreline that defied the eye test.
The Kangaroos were second best throughout, yet somehow outscored New Zealand five tries to three.
Australia simply found a way, as they always do. They remain unbeaten in World Cups since 2008 after riding their luck and creating their own fortune in a game that echoed their tense semi-final win at Elland Road four years ago.
The worrying thing for Australia's rivals is that they are only likely to get better as the tournament progresses.
For the Kiwis, meanwhile, this was a missed opportunity to land an early psychological blow.
The first half belonged to New Zealand on virtually every metric apart from the one that truly mattered: the scoreboard.
By the end of 40 absorbing minutes, the Kiwis must have been wondering how the scores were level at 10-10.
New Zealand dominated from the off and quickly scored an early contender for try of the tournament, Casey McLean producing a miraculous finish in the corner after Australia failed to deal with Jahrome Hughes' lofted kick.
Hughes was in a class of his own with the boot before blotting his copybook with a glory ball that went wrong.
New Zealand had the Kangaroos where they wanted them, only to offer them a route into the game when Bostock picked off Hughes' pass and raced 90 metres to score.
The first half was characterised by two huge swings that went in Australia's favour.
Shortly after, New Zealand looked set to score again after working another overlap on the opposite flank. In a flash, though, Tom Trbojevic had picked off McLean's pass and gone the distance.
Instead of sitting comfortably, the Kiwis found themselves chasing the game.
New Zealand continued to do most of the running, going close when Ponga was denied an electrifying try by Walsh.
In the end, they had to settle for two penalties from the boot of Jamayne Isaako, the second earning Kotoni Staggs a spell in the sin bin for taking out Kodi Nikorima from Hughes' testing kick.
The pressure only increased on Australia after half-time when half-back Mitchell Moses was forced off injured – and they eventually cracked.
Just as Staggs was preparing to return, Ponga scored a debut try from Isaiah Papali'i's offload to put New Zealand back ahead.
Once again, though, Australia called on a favour from Lady Luck to stay in the game.
Ronaldo Mulitalo pounced on a bad mistake from Trbojevic to race over, only for the video referee to spot an offside in the build-up.
True to form, the Kangaroos struck almost immediately at the other end when Bostock rose highest to finish Cameron Munster's high kick.
But back came New Zealand as the most gripping of contests reached fever pitch.
Ponga had appeared to be struggling with an arm injury before slicing through Australia's left edge and leaving Walsh behind with a sensational step.
Not for the first time, there was a sense that New Zealand were one try away from settling it – but the Kangaroos never know when they are done. They came up with another moment from nowhere and the best of the lot as Walsh raced clear to score a breathless 80-metre breakaway try.
Ponga was eventually forced off before Bostock completed the comeback four minutes from time with virtually a carbon copy of his second try.
It was a fitting finale to a contest that delivered drama at every turn. One game in and there is every chance this will not be topped.
Australia: Walsh, Bostock, Mitchell, Staggs, Trbojevic, Munster, Moses, Carrigan, Grant, Fa'asuamaleaui, Preston, Martin, Yeo. Substitutes: Dearden, Murray, Cotter, Koloamatangi, Fifita, Best.
Tries: Bostock (20, 57, 76), Trbojevic (31), Walsh (68).
Goals: Walsh 2/4, Mitchell 0/1.
Sin bin: Staggs (37).
New Zealand: Ponga, Isaako, Gagai, McLean, Mulitalo, Nikorima, Hughes, Fisher-Harris, Marshall-King, Leota, Papali'i, Nikora, Tapine. Substitutes: Martin, Whyte, Clark, Willison, Nicoll-Klokstad, Kini.
Tries: McLean (4), Ponga (47, 60).
Goals: Isaako 5/5.
Referee: Adam Gee (Australia).