Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters and selector Andrew Johns haven't ruled put a line through Mark Nawaqanitawase playing for Australia despite news he will return to rugby union.
The Roosters flyer is a big chance to become a cross-code international as selection looms for the Ashes tour next month, but there's been division over whether he should be in the green and gold.
Nawaqanitwase will still be at the Roosters next year but wants to play in the 2027 Rugby World Cup and plans to ditch rugby league at the end of next NRL season.
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New coach Walters confirmed he doesn't have an issue picking the star winger.
"It doesn't change what happens at the end of this year, certainly not. He's still in contention," he said on Triple M's The Coaches.
"His form all season has been something that's caught the selectors' eye, so we'll sit down and pick the Kangaroos squad of 22 on the Monday after the NRL grand final, so not long to go now."
One of those selectors is Johns, who joins Boyd Cordner, Darren Lockyer, Cameron Smith and ARLC chairman Peter V'landys.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour, Johns wasn't bothered by Nawaqanitawase's decision.
"I have no problem with it," he said.
"You want to win. You want to win in the present … I think he should be available, and I think he should be picked.
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"If someone was retiring at the end of this year, do you pick them? Yeah. He's going to rugby, we know he's going to rugby now, (but) you've got to pick in the present.
"(Kangaroos) are a bit light on outside backs too, Latrell's (Mitchell) not going, Stephen Crichton's committed to Samoa, we don't know about Kotoni (Staggs) and where he is (Tonga or Kangaroos) so the outside backs you're looking at Bradman Best on the left, Xavier Coates, (Zac) Lomax, then depending on Kotoni, you're looking at Jesse Ramien or Mark in the centres.
"Even Billy Smith at the Roosters, he can play on the right.
"I'd pick him (Nawaqanitawase) for sure."
Johns confirmed a crunch meeting for selectors will be held on Sunday, but a squad won't be locked in until after the grand final the following week.
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