Meanwhile, ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said he would further look at the situation where junior Australian representatives, such as Benji Marshall and Kieran Foran, elected to play for New Zealand's senior team.
The Kiwis have eight players in their squad in Newcastle who are eligible to play for Australia, including five who played for Australia at schoolboy or junior level. Marshall (2003 Australian schoolboys), Foran (2007 schoolboys), Gerard Beale (2010 Junior Kangaroos), Kevin Proctor (2006-07 schoolboys) and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (2007 Australian rugby under 19s) pledged their allegiance to New Zealand, while Queensland State of Origin representative Nathan Fien, Sam McKendry and Jason Nightingale were born here.
''The issue is dual eligibility,'' Carr said. ''Guys like Benji qualify for Australian Schoolboys because, by definition, he attended school here and that makes him an Australian schoolboy, but if he goes back to New Zealand the next year it's hard to deny the fact he's a New Zealander. Even at full international status you can change your election [for national honours] at an election period, and that's why we have Bulgarian weightlifters and Russian pole vaulters. You can qualify for a country through heritage, residency or a passport.''
Brisbane utility Beale, who is related to All Blacks great Zinzan Brooke, had no qualms representing the Kiwis although he was born and raised in Australia and played for last year's Junior Kangaroos.
''It was a tough decision because it meant I turned my back on Queensland and Origin is massive, but I always wanted to play in the black jersey,'' he said. ''I don't regret it and my family is proud I chose New Zealand.''
