A new global tournament that pitted the best teams in the world against each other before a finals series in the Netherlands.

But not for Australia.

It was certainly important, but it wasn't the tournament the Kookaburras had their eyes firmly focused on.

That competition was the Oceania Cup, where the team had the chance to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

On Sunday the Olympic goal became a reality, with Australia defeating New Zealand 2-0 in their three-match series in Rockhampton to punch their ticket to Tokyo.

After the disastrous campaign that was the Rio Olympics, qualifying for Tokyo was more a relief than a cause to celebrate for Wollongong's Blake Govers.

Govers and fellow Illawarra talent Flynn Ogilvie were among Australia's best over the weekend, with Govers scoring four goals across the three games and Ogilvie adding one of his own.

Now the Kookaburras have secured Olympic qualification, Govers said the team is focused on ensuring they climb to the top step of the podium in Tokyo.

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"This whole year, even though we've had other matches, the Pro League, we've still focused on qualifying this team for the Olympics," Govers said. "It was our biggest goal for this year. Now to get gold is our biggest goal and we're one step closer.

"We've won everything we need to win, that we can win, which is fantastic, winning the Pro League and Oceania Cup and the coaches have got us going really well together.

"We couldn't win more than what we have this year, but there's always areas we can grow a bit more. We never think the job's done, which is a big mantra in this squad."

The Kookaburras journey throughout the past three years has followed a similar pattern to previous Olympic cycles.

Despite the hiccup in Rio, it didn't take long for the Kookaburras to return to the top of the hockey world, where they have remained for three years.

The men have been near unbeatable in global tournaments, with the side winning the 2017 World League Finals, 2018 Champions Trophy, Commonwealth Games and this year's Pro League.

The Kookaburras only hiccup came at last year's World Cup, where they finished third after a semi-final shootout defeat.

Govers acknowledges this level of success has hampered the team in the past and while he concedes we won't know for sure until after the Olympics, the 23-year-old is confident the Kookaburras have learnt the lessons of previous Olympics.

"In 2012 when we won Bronze in London, from that game on, we won everything. World Cups, Commonwealth Games, Champions Trophy, we won every tournament. Once we got to Rio, we were a bit blindsided by everything and we didn't deserve to win the gold medal there.

"We're aware of that now. Within this team there is a lot of experience in our coaching staff and we're a lot more aware of avoiding that in Tokyo. When you are winning everything, it is a danger going into the Olympics.

"We are aware of where we need to be and not getting too far ahead of ourselves. We know the Olympics is always a funny tournament and we need to be switched on for every moment."

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