Coach Stephen Kearney insists the Test door hasn't closed on Benji Marshall, despite the former captain's latest omission from the Kiwis.
Not for the first time, Kearney has overlooked the 30-year-old playmaker, confirming on Friday he wants to develop depth at halfback on New Zealand's three-Test tour of England in November.
Marshall's name was missing when Kearney updated his wider training squad, adding St George Illawarra wing Jason Nightingale and South Sydney pair Issac Luke and Bryson Goodwin following those teams' elimination from the NRL play-offs.
Kearney says 27-Test veteran Marshall wanted to know straight away if it was the end of road when delivered the bad news on Wednesday.
"I told him `definitely not'," Kearney said.
"If he's got the desire to still want to play for New Zealand, then he will go into the mix with everyone else next year.
"This gives us an opportunity to build some depth in that position. By giving some younger guys some Test match footy in that position, I think that's a positive for us."
Kearney's desire for depth was fuelled by the broken ankle suffered by Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson two months ago.
Warriors utility Tuimoala Lolohea, 20, or rising Broncos half Kodi Nikorima, 21, is likely to partner Kieran Foran in the halves against England. Lolohea has already been included in the 18-strong wider squad.
It is unclear if Marshall would have been fit to tour after he limped out of the Dragons' golden-point loss to the Bulldogs in Sydney last Saturday.
However, Kearney says he wouldn't have been picked either way, extending his Test absence since 2012, a period which includes a failed rugby union stint with the Blues.
Kearney says he was happy with Marshall's form for the Dragons.
Nightingale and Luke were part of this year's Anzac Test win over Australia while centre Goodwin's last appearance was the heavy World Cup final loss to the Kangaroos in 2013.
A 23-strong touring side will be announced on October 4, less than three weeks out from their sole warm-up game against Leeds.
KIWIS WIDER SQUAD
Lewis Brown (Penrith Panthers), Manaia Cherrington (Wests Tigers), Kieran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles), Bryson Goodwin (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Peta Hiku (Manly Sea Eagles), Solomone Kata (NZ Warriors), Tuimoala Lolohea (NZ Warriors), Issac Luke (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Simon Mannering (NZ Warriors), Ben Matulino (NZ Warriors), Manu Ma'u (Parramatta Eels), Sam McKendry (Penrith Panthers), Jason Nightingale (St George Dragons), Tim Simona (Wests Tigers), Martin Taupau (Wests Tigers), Elijah Taylor (Penrith Panthers), Bodene Thompson (NZ Warriors), Dean Whare (Penrith Panthers)
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