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The English league will pinpoint dates that could yet save the Anzac rugby league test.
New dates may make it more convenient for the Kiwis to free players for future Anzac tests, relieving the club-vs-country wrangle that was played out recently and which has affected New Zealand's ability to field its strongest teams.
Both Australia and New Zealand are keen for the Anzac test to continue beyond this year, despite agreeing last year that Friday night's would be the last because of mismatches and New Zealand's inability to produce their strongest side.
Historically, there has been a reluctance by English clubs to release players for the test even though they are required to under international rules. That was seen again a fortnight ago when they appealed against New Zealand's right to call up Brent Webb (Leeds) and Thomas Leuluai (Wigan).
NZRL chairman Ray Haffenden met his English counterpart Richard Lewis on Friday to discuss how they could successfully navigate the issue.
"We came to a friendly agreement," Haffenden said. "The rules are there and should be abided by but we are realistic and know we shouldn't take advantage of that. We are trying to best get a window that doesn't interfere with their competition.
"He [Lewis] will recommend a day that benefits them and we will then talk to Australia and see if it works with them. We are all working together to try to ensure it doesn't happen in the future."
The NZRL under Haffenden is keen for Anzac tests to continue, despite the fact the Kiwis have won only one game since the concept was introduced in 1997 - a game played in New Zealand in 1998 - and have been on the end of a 229-56 scoreline since 2000.
They make on average $500,000 from the match when it is played in Australia, and should bank close to that his year when 34,571 turned up to the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday night.
Brisbanites have traditionally embraced the game, packing in more than 40,000 at Suncorp Stadium in both 2005 and 2006.
One suggestion to help alleviate the problem of availability is for teams with a strong New Zealand presence, as is the case with Leeds and Wigan in UK Super League and Souths and the Warriors in the NRL, to have byes around test weekends.
New Zealand, more than any other of the big three nations, need access to all of their players and this could also be helped by the introduction of an international calendar.
The idea has been gathering momentum in the past couple of years. Last year, the international board were close to agreeing to a cycle that would see an expanded Four Nations (France will join from next year) until 2011 before a Lions tour of the Southern Hemisphere in 2011 and a World Cup held in the Northern Hemisphere the following year.
The plan would then see a four-year cycle after 2012 that would see the Four Nations held every second year, along with a four-yearly World Cup and a window for tours.
Haffenden said he wouldn't confirm nor deny speculation that the winners of a Pacific Islands tournament involving Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea would also be invited to join the Four Nations.
"An international calendar is one of the first things [we are working on]," said Haffenden, who on Thursday was elected onto the international board to replace former NZRL chairman Andrew Chalmers. "We have had discussions along those lines and it would be a sensible way of approaching things."
