League: Carl Webb turns down opportunity to play for Kiwis

North Queensland prop Carl Webb, who has a New Zealand father, yesterday knocked back an opportunity to play for the Kiwis.

He cited his desire to regain his Queensland jersey and play for Australia as the reasons behind his decision.

"I'm honoured by their interest, but I'm not playing for the Kiwis," said Webb, who played the last of his four games for Queensland in 2002.

"First of all my goal is to play well for the Cowboys, then to play for Queensland then, hopefully, for Australia."

Webb's decision comes a year after Brisbane's Karmichael Hunt rejected an opportunity to play for the Kiwis.

He also coveted a Queensland jersey over playing for New Zealand, the land of his birth.

Queensland Rugby League managing director Ross Livermore said he was delighted to hear Webb would be concentrating his efforts on playing for the state.

"The form he's in at the moment, he's certainly a contender for Origin," Livermore said. "He's been there before, he's tested in it, he knows what's expected of him, and he's got the hunger to be there this year."

Fortunately for New Zealand, forward depth is not a problem.

Jason and Nathan Cayless, Paul Rauhihi, Ruben Wiki, Roy Asotasi and Iafeta Paleaaesina are all vying for places in the front row for the Anzac Day test.

Positions in the back row are just as competitive.