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A stunning return to rugby league for former Australian captain Brad Fittler will be discussed this week by the New Zealand All Golds selectors.
Kiwis and All Golds coach Brian McClennan yesterday made little attempt to play down speculation Fittler will be approached to replace Andrew Johns as the Australian representative in the October 20 centenary match against the Northern Union at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium in Britain.
Current Australia captain Darren Lockyer remains the favourite to fill the role Dally Messenger played in league's first international tour in 1907.
Lockyer is expected to be recommended by Johns, who retired this month due to injury.
"It's all speculation at this stage, it hasn't even been discussed," McClennan told Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper when asked about Fittler.
"I haven't spoken to the convenor of selectors about it. We'll do that this week."
McClennan said he was yet to speak to Johns on the issue.
"I'm going to give him a ring. It will have due influence. I think it's the right thing to do, to ask him his opinion."
New Zealand Rugby League chairman Andrew Chalmers told the newspaper "you're not the first person to mention his name", while Fittler, the current Sydney Roosters assistant coach, was stunned to learn he may have the opportunity to play one last game, two years after retiring.
"When someone called me about it, I thought it was a gee-up," he said.
"I've got a mate called Shane, I thought it was him, I kept saying 'good one Shane'.
"It's fair dinkum? Geez. It's not something I've given any consideration to. It's interesting. I'd have to think about it."
Asked whether he felt he would be fit enough to play, Fittler said: "I don't know."
Meanwhile, National Rugby League chief operating officer Graham Annesley said it was unlikely McClennan would be successful in his call to have players stood down from club football the week before Anzac tests.
"The clubs would oppose it," Annesley said.
"They already have to stand them down for the three State of Origin matches and the players are fulltime employees of the clubs.
"To lose them for another game would mean they are not getting value from their investment in these players."
- NZPA
