NRL: No room for Marshall in Kiwis squad

Benji Marshall. Photo / Dean Purcell

Stephen Kearney says the door is still open for Benji Marshall to play for the Kiwis, despite his omission from the train-on squad for the upcoming Four Nations tournament.

There was no room for Marshall in the initial 21-man roster named from the clubs not involved in the NRL playoffs but the Kiwis coach insists it's not the end.

"Anything is possible and there's every opportunity for Benji to wear the black jersey [again]," said Kearney.

"At this particular stage, it won't be in 2014 but I am not writing anything off. The way he has come back has been a real credit to him and in 12 months we all might be singing a different song."

Kearney added that the recent focus had been on developing Shaun Johnson and Kieran Foran as the premier halves combination, with an eye on the 2017 World Cup.

Marshall's return to league late in the NRL season had counted against him, although Kearney conceded his form with the Dragons had been tracking in the right direction.

Marshall's absence wasn't a surprise - there had been rumblings - but it's puzzling. The Kiwis are hardly blessed with incredible depth in the halves, as was shown in the Anzac test when Isaac John and Tohu Harris shared duties after Foran's injury.

The Kiwi selectors have included three players - Valentine Holmes (Junior Kangaroos), Suaia Matagi and Fa'amanu Brown (both Samoa) - who have also been named in other national squads but are confident the trio will opt for the Kiwis.