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Phil Goff and Graham Henry.
The similarities may not be obvious to everyone, but the Labour leader's likened himself to the All Blacks coach as he tries to carve out a new image at the party conference in Rotorua.
Labour's currently reaching out and trying to reconnect with the electorate.
The trouble is when you're 25 points behind in the polls, questions about leadership inevitably arise.
Questions like "Would Goff stay on after an election loss?"
"I would support whoever I thought was best in that position. If I think I am the best person I'll be putting my name forward. If I think somebody else is then I would acknowledge that," says Goff.
Goff likens Labour's position to the All Blacks - with him as coach.
"I think Graham Henry is feeling the same pressure at the moment, he has been for many years, we do our best, we work our way forward. I'm confident I can do that job as leader."
ONE News asked conference goers how Goff stacks up against Helen Clark.
"Some people listen other people don't and I think he is a listener," said one party member.
"I think that calm seasoned approach, that stands out. Helen was very decisive she knew where she was going," said another.
The party president, Andrew Little, is warning against change.
"Helen Clark spent 15 years as Labour leader and still casts a long shadow over the party. One of Phil Goff's biggest tasks at the conference this weekend is to stamp his own style on the labour party," says Little.
It seems the struggle for Phil Goff is to usher in his own era and shrug off criticism that he's fill-in Phil - Labour's temporary leader.
