The New Zealand Rugby League is relaxed at the prospect of contesting a pre-World Cup tug-of-war with Pacific Island nations before finalising a Kiwis squad to defend the crown in the UK, Ireland and France later this year.
Samoa, who appointed St George Illawarra's Steve Price to succeeded NRL referees' boss Daniel Anderson as head coach on Monday, also started building their roster with former Kiwis centre Steve Matai saying he was no longer available for New Zealand.
Former Kiwis captain Roy Asotasi, fellow South Sydney front rower Jeff Lima and World Cup-winning centre Junior Sa'u have also been linked to a squad being assembled by Samoa's technical director Nigel Vagana.
Realistically that trio are dispensable although Warriors five-eighth Thomas Leuluai and centre Jerome Ropati are also on Vagana's wish list.
"It'd be great if we can get those guys but the Kiwis will have an eye on them this year," he admitted as the former Kiwis centre works to finalise a team for the April 20 test against Tonga in Sydney.
Leuluai is likely to be selected for the Anzac test with the Kangaroos in Canberra the night before while the injury-plagued Ropati is currently a candidate for the Kiwis World Cup squad.
Vagana has already missed out on Sonny Bill Williams and Frank Pritchard's priority is the Kiwis but the recruitment drive continues - a project that doesn't faze Tony Iro, New Zealand Rugby League's high performance manager.
"In a World Cup year we're going to have this issue, there will be a tug of war over players now and then," said Iro, who also serves as head coach Stephen Kearney's assistant.
If potential Kiwis opt to play for Samoa or Tonga this month they cannot be chosen for the Kiwis until the next World Cup cycle but if they sidestep the test and are subsequently overlooked by the NZRL selectors they could still represent the islands of their heritage.
"Some players will align themselves with the Island nations," said Iro, who used his brother, former Kiwis centre, Kevin as an example.
"He played the last two or three years of his career with the Cook Islands.
"I can fully understand where those players are coming from.
"It's valuable for the tournament as well because those guys represent their nations and make the tournament as strong as possible."
Iro was comfortable with Matai's decision, noting the Manly backline enforcer played the last of his 10 tests in 2010.
"We were aware he was probably going to make the decision. It didn't come as a big shock," he said, before detailing multiple options at centre - Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Dean Whare, Gerard Beale and Simon Mannering.
Krisnan Inu, who is unavailable for the Anzac test due to suspension, will also be back in contention.
Vagana conceded it would be difficult to acquire potential Kiwis before the teams meet during the opening round of pool play in Warrington on October 27.
"The Aussies and Kiwis are going to take the cream of the crop which is fine," he said.
"If they want to play for the Kiwis that's cool, we'll cheer for them as well. We're happy to take the rest."
Apart from seasoned pros like 31-year-old Asotasi, Samoa is likely to feature predominantly up-and-coming personnel that could represent the Kiwis at future World Cups.
Vagana nominated Parramatta outside back Ken Sio as a player with dual eligibility that would be keen on representing Samoa.
"Kenny is going to be up against Manu (Vatuvei), Gerard Beale, Josh Hoffman, Jason Nightingale, Kevin Locke, it just goes on and on.
At the opposite end of the experience spectrum Vagana was also keen to enlist former Kiwis teammates Ali Lauitiiti and Tony Puletua, 30-somethings who are still playing in England with Wakefield and St Helens respectively.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/8504674/NZRL-faces-tug-of-war-over-with-Pacific-teams
The Kiwis can keep playing Mannering in the centres :lol:
