The All Black said last year was about getting the monkey of not having won the title since 2003 off their back.
"But that was last year."
The Blues have talked about not falling into the trap of being concerned about other teams, or things outside their control, and also not being complacent.
"The goal is to win it again, to go back-to-back.
"But having won last year, we've got to work harder this year, because I know we are going to be the ones that are hunted."
Central to achieving that is the need to have honest conversations. Papali'i said they couldn't beat around the bush and not work hard.
"People talk about working hard, but doing it is a different thing, and we did a lot of that last year, and we could have been better at that last year as well.
"The ceiling's quite high for us, and we've just got to work hard and trust each other."
While their formula for success last year was based on the power and drive set by the forwards, they can't rely on going through the same process in 2025.
"But, whatever we do, and decide to do for a [particular] week, we're going to buy in and see how it works."
Papali'i said he has been impressed with the speed and strength younger players in the side have shown during the pre-season.
The All Blacks have also returned from their leave in good shape, while Papali'i said that with his enforced break, he feels like he is in the best pre-season form of his career.
"The only thing that's really holding me back is the little niggles, but I'm keen to get amongst it."
Papali'i was forced to miss the end-of-season tour to the northern hemisphere last year due to an upper hamstring injury, so dynamic Hurricanes flanker Peter Lakai was included for the tour in his place.
With former captain Sam Cane retiring at the end of the tour, Lakai's impressive performances increased the list of challengers to contest the starter's role on the openside of the scrum later in the season for the All Blacks.
But for the moment, Papali'i's immediate goal is performing for the Blues.