Manly chief executive Grant Mayer insists the premiership-winning club won't block Steve Matai lining up for the Kiwis at this month's World Cup.
Matai, who aggravated his shoulder injury during the Sea Eagles 40-0 NRL grand final romp on Sunday, was still celebrating with a few beers yesterday but told The Dominion Post he was confident of taking his place in Stephen Kearney's 24-man squad.
He needs surgery to clean up bone fragments in a shoulder, and it's just a matter of when that takes place.
Kearney is hoping it can be delayed till after the World Cup, but that decision will be made after Matai's meeting with Manly doctor Paul Bloomfield tomorrow.
Bloomfield will then refer Matai to an independent specialist, who will rule the best course of action.
"The club's got no say," Mayer said. "Ultimately it will come down to a medical opinion.
"There's no doubt that he's been playing busted pretty much all year.
"Whether or not he would want to risk it and try and play for his country, I guess it's a decision he's got to make once he meets with the doctors."
While Matai has played through most of the season in severe pain, Mayer admitted he would be concerned watching him play at the World Cup.
"You're talking about the neck and the shoulder, and as soon as we start talking about that - with the physicality of test match football - it's a pretty big risk."
The Kiwis have historically battled to get a fair go from Australian NRL clubs but Mayer said, if ruled Matai is ruled fit, he'd love nothing more than to see the in-form centre take on Australia in New Zealand's tournament opener on October 26 in Sydney.
"I want to make this quite clear, this club has never and will never stand in the way of a football player playing for their country or their state."
Mayer believed the issue would be sorted before the Kiwis assemble to play Tonga in a warmup game in Auckland next week.
Both Mayer and Kearney hope it won't be necessary, but World Cup organisers have appointed an independent medical officer, who will help in settling disputes between nations and clubs.
If Matai is ruled out, the Kiwis still boast three quality centres in Setaimata Sa, Sia Soliola and Jerome Ropati.
The fitness of Matai and Leeds fullback Brent Webb, who has a back problem and also needs medical clearance, are Kearney's main headaches after naming a predictable squad yesterday.
Parramatta's Nathan Cayless was named captain in the absence of injured Roy Asotasi, while Nathan Fien returns for the first time since the controversial "Grannygate" Tri-Nations in 2006.
Hutt Valley junior Sika Manu is the only uncapped Kiwi.
Manly's NRL dominance was rewarded with six selections in a powerful Kangaroos squad, with hirsute wing David "Wolfman" Williams the bolter.
Warriors brothers-in-law Steve Price and Brent Tate were both included, with Queensland teammate Darren Lockyer returning as captain.
Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Ireland and Scotland will announce their squads today and will clean up the scraps left by Australia and New Zealand.
Kearney will train 16 of the Kiwis squad under the guise of the All Golds in Auckland today, preparing for Sunday's match against New Zealand Maori in New Plymouth.
New Zealand's four Storm players, plus Matai, will be rested, along with the Warriors' Simon Mannering. Webb and Tigers utility Dene Halatau will also rest.
THE SQUAD: Kiwis: Nathan Cayless (Parramatta, captain), Adam Blair (Melbourne), Greg Eastwood (Brisbane), David Fa'alogo (South Sydney), Nathan Fien (Warriors), Dene Halatau (Tigers), Lance Hohaia (Warriors), Krisnan Inu (Parramatta), David Kidwell (South Sydney), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Jeff Lima (Melbourne), Issac Luke (South Sydney), Simon Mannering (Warriors), Sika Manu (Melbourne), Benji Marshall (Tigers), Steve Matai (Manly), Sam Perrett (Roosters), Sam Rapira (Warriors), Jerome Ropati (Warriors), Setaimata Sa (Roosters), Jeremy Smith (Melbourne), Iosia Soliola (Roosters), Manu Vatuvei (Warriors), Brent Webb (Leeds).
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