NRL Grand Final: No place for mateship in Four Nations

The Warriors Shaun Johnson has rugby league gurus excited. Photo / Getty Images

Fans could be about to witness the long future of Kangaroo-Kiwi half rivalry when the Sea Eagles meet the Warriors at the NRL grand final in Sydney this evening.

Those who are team-mates now - Kieran Foran (21) and Daly Cherry-Evans (22) for Manly and James Maloney (25) and Shaun Johnson (21) for the Warriors - could become foes as early as next month in the Four Nations if the current whispers end up inked on the teamsheets.

The foursome have shone across the NRL season with Cherry-Evans playing every game while Maloney missed one as did Foran (via suspension). Johnson has played 15, the last 12 in succession after overtaking Brett Seymour in coach Ivan Cleary's reckoning.

The likelihood of international selection will be injury-dependent but Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney has as good as named Johnson in his squad for the Four Nations, if not the test against Australia at Newcastle in a fortnight.

Johnson is seen as a playmaker in the mould of Benji Marshall, using finesse from his touch rugby background to outpoint opponents whereas Foran's strength and robust nature make him a useful foil moving from five-eighth to halfback when he is with the Kiwis.

"I will be avidly watching the final from home; I'm not going if it means sitting in the stands," Kearney says, referring to his side Parramatta finishing 14th on the NRL ladder.

"Shaun's emergence is a positive not only for the Four Nations but also New Zealand rugby league's future. It's a pleasant headache but we have to be careful. It took Benji Marshall [who came into the Kiwis aged 20 in 2005] several years to establish himself.

"Kieran and Benji have earned the starting spots for now. Benji as captain only just missed winning the Dally M award to Billy Slater, so he's the standout five-eighth, and Kieran's developing strongly.

"We're mindful Shaun is in a development phase which I'm sure he'd happily admit. He has a lot to learn but his game has outstanding attributes; the sleight of hand from his touch background, the long- and short-range kicking game and genuine pace. Some of those things you can't coach."

Of the quartet, all but Foran have come from nowhere to be a potential international.

Australian coach Tim Sheens has hinted NRL rookie of the year Cherry-Evans is in contention. And there are concerns over Johnathan Thurston's recovery from knee surgery.

Cooper Cronk will become top choice but Sheens generally carries two halfbacks. Maloney comes into the frame, depending on Darren Lockyer's fractured cheekbone.

Lockyer spoke about Maloney's support play being among the best in the game as well as his taking a director-general role with Johnson. Lockyer found similarities with Cherry-Evans who does the organising letting Foran hunt opportunities.