League: Kiwis door still open for Benji, says Kearney

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney. New Zealand Herald Photograph by Brett Phibbs.

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney insists the door is still open for Benji Marshall to make a test comeback but reinforced his desire to blood new talent in the halfback role on the end of year tour to England.

Marshall was today left out of the Kiwis train-on squad with the New Zealand Rugby League issuing a press release confirming he would miss selection for the upcoming four-game end of year tour, regardless of whether he overcomes an ankle injury suffered in last Saturday's Golden Point elimination-final defeat to the Bulldogs.

However, Kearney today denied Marshall's days in the Kiwis jersey were over completely, and said the 30-year-old former test captain could re-enter the selection frame next year.

"I spoke to Benji on Wednesday and he asked me that same question, and my response to him was 'definitely not'", said Kearney.

"Benji will definitely be considered next year."

Despite the Kiwis already missing the services of Shaun Johnson and Thomas Leuluai for the England tour, he believes Marshall's presence would be more valuable in 2016.

The NZRL are hoping to arrange a mid-year test series against an as yet unnamed opponent, ahead of the Four Nations tournament at the end of next season.

"Next year we've got a pretty full calendar in terms of test matches and the Four Nations tournament. And if he has the desire to still play for New Zealand then he will go into the mix with everyone else," Kearney added.

"It's a different situation and we'll assess the position and the situation when we get to that stage, and that was certainly what I communicated to Benji."

On his decision to spell out Marshall's omission from the England tour in clear terms, Kearney said it was better to have clarity around his intentions to offer game time to emerging halves, including Warriors Rookie of the Year Tuimoala Lolohea and Brisbane's young interchange half Kodi Nikorima.

"I just think it's easier that way. It's clean; no one is under any illusions," he said.

"That's the point that I made to Benji, that this gives us the opportunity to build some depth in that position and potentially give these younger guys some test match footy. And that's a positive for us moving forward.

"Young Tuimoala Lolohea is an example. How do we know he's up to that level of football if he's not going to get the opportunity? That's the way I see it.

"From my point of view and the selector's point of view, we thought it best for these guys that we're looking to develop, for it to be this way."

Marshall was disappointed to learn he would miss the tour, while also dealing with the uncertainty regarding the severity of his ankle injury.

"He was going in to get an MRI scan on his injured ankle when we spoke. But obviously he was disappointed.

"But I indicated to him that he will certainly be considered next year, if he wanted to be considered, and he definitely wanted to be."

Kearney also expressed his disappointment after NRL360 correspondent Ben Dobbin suggested on Wednesday night that the Warriors were lining him up to replace coach Andrew McFadden ahead of next season.

"I 150 percent haven't spoken to anyone at the Warriors and I was very disappointed with that and made Dobbo [Dobbin] aware of that," he said.

"I've moved on from it and I know everyone at the Warriors has moved on so the less said the better."