Kalyn Ponga has confirmed he is open to representing New Zealand in international rugby league.
The Newcastle Knights fullback was born in Port Hedland and has both Australian and New Zealand heritage.
Current international rules prevent switches between Tier 1 nations such as Australia, England and New Zealand.
However, players with multiple eligibilities can move between Tier 2 and Tier 1 or between Tier 2 nations on an annual basis.
State of Origin eligibility is more restrictive, and representing another Tier 1 country disqualifies a player from Origin under NRL rules.
Ponga has played ten State of Origin games for Queensland but has not yet appeared for Australia in the full 13-a-side international game.
His appearances for the Australian 9s team at the 2019 World Cup do not bind him to Australia in the same way.
That precedent mirrors the situation that allowed AJ Brimson to change eligibility from Australian to English despite prior Queensland appearances.
A switch to New Zealand would effectively end Ponga's Origin career but might align with his long-term representative prospects.
Reece Walsh's emergence as Queensland's likely long-term fullback could have influenced Ponga's thinking about his future.
Ponga spoke to AAP about the possibility and did not rule it out.
"Yeah, I would," Ponga told AAP.