Anyone else feel like the Kiwis in the past have been a bit like Ash Ketchum ... 'I choose you!'

Rugby league eligibility is extremely confusing and the ins and outs of the rule-book aren't something I really care for. Nor is it an issue that I feel strongly either way because come World Cup time, seeing players represent their culture and heritage as we saw with Italy for example is not only a great spectacle but it raises the standard of the World Cup.

With so many players born in one country but growing up in another and then living in another country with a mother who comes from this country and a father who comes from that country, to have black and white rules doesn't quite fit the bill. For the game of rugby league to grow, more countries have to be involved and we need to figure things out in our part of the world where the lure of a Kangaroos or Kiwis jersey in the past has pulled players away from representing their culture and heritage.

Last week I wrote about the Kiwis and how their squad that will embark on an end of year tour to England might look, which got me thinking about a bunch of players who might find themselves on the cusp of a Kiwis jersey, having already played for either Samoa or Tonga. Given our strong links with Samoa and Tonga, it's only really these two nations that have this relationship with the Kiwis; the Kangaroos have closer ties to Papa New Guinea and Fiji.

A look at the team sheets from the Test match between Samoa and Tonga earlier this year offers us a group of players who have performed at such a level in the NRL this season that they could find themselves in the mix for a Kiwis spot. Some, like Tim Simona, Solomone Kata or Konrad Hurrell might find themselves in the mix thanks to circumstance rather than a 'look at me' type of season as Dean Whare will be coming off a broken thumb and who knows what might happen with Gerard Beale. Point being that the stars could align for one of these three and the Kiwis might need one of them (but the choice is ultimately theirs, more on that in a jiffy).

From that Test I have the following who could be contention for a Kiwis jersey in the future, not necessarily for the English tour - Sam Kasiano, Isaac Liu, Sam Lisone Sauaso Sue, Tuimoala Lolohea, Konrad Hurrell, Albert Vete, Solomone Kata, Sosaia Feki, Peni Terepo (has hardly been cited in the NRL since, but I like him), Manu Ma'u and Siosuia Taukeiaho.

Those are just guys that have recently representing their country/heritage and I could throw names like Ava Seumanufagai and John Asiata into the pool as well as they could find themselves in the international arena sooner rather than later.

The group above offers up a few players who genuinely deserve a shot at playing for the Kiwis, such has been their form this season. Vete has been one of the Warriors best and he's slightly ahead of Lisone only because he's played more, while Feki has hardly had a poor game this season, Lolohea has shown that he's an attacking weapon who could fill a utility spot and Taukeiaho, well he's the pick of the bunch isn't he?

I also wouldn't sleep on Ma'u who hasn't been front and centre each week, but he gets through 80 minutes and plays with an intensity that puts him in an elite class, albeit on a shit team.

Confusing, or simplifying matters depending on how you look at it is my view that this is the best Kiwis team/group I have ever seen. There aren't many positions up for grabs and any of these players who I have named, would struggle to find much game time on the tour of England and would be squad members at best. Even a lad like Kasiano who has played for the Kiwis before and fits the Kiwis style to an extent with power and skill, wouldn't be in my top 17.

I believe the players should hold the power here. The issue with that is that I assume that you can earn more money as a Kiwis player than you would playing for Samoa or Tonga. That's purely speculation, but it makes sense that match payments coming from the NZRL are more than those coming from the Samoan or Tongan unions. Alternatively, there could be some sort of blanket match-payment system for international rugby league, but that wouldn't explain why numerous players have gone the Kiwis route over representing their beloved nation where they were born or where their family hails from.

Ideally, we would see players pick and stick. Seeing Hurrell and Kata for example who both came to Aotearoa as teenagers, consistently run out for Tonga would be awesome and something like this would do wonders for the competitiveness of international rugby league.

Two players who I believe coach Kearney could have been in touch with are Vete and Taukeiaho as they have been in great form this season. Should this be the case, it would be a tough decision for both of them and I wouldn't be fussed whatever decision they come to; they were both born in Auckland but as we have seen on Sky TV over and over again, Vete especially is extremely proud of his Tongan heritage. I don't envy these young men and the decisions they have to make.

Sidenote that I hope doesn't come across as insensitive - there does appear to be less Kiwis who could also represent Samoa or Tonga than there has been previously, which means they are European or Maori, which has nothing to do with why they have beaten the Kangaroos three times in a row. These guys from the ANZAC Test are all hugely important to the Kiwis and could choose to represent Samoa or Tonga at some stage: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Manu Vatuvei, Sam Moa and Ben Matulino plus definite selections like Jason Taumalolo and Martin Taupau.

This should be seen as a positive for all parties involved as it shows the growth of rugby league throughout Aotearoa as the Kiwis don't need to rely on those luring players in to play for the Kiwis. This in-turn frees up more players to represent the likes of Samoa and Tonga, which is better for them. It could also mean that we see less and less double ups in terms of representing the Kiwis along with Samoa and Tonga.

It's incredibly complex because I want to see the island nations as strong as possible and I believe it's out duty as the pacific's big brother to look after the smaller islands (we are a bunch of islands ourselves). Seeing the very best Tongan and Samoan teams each year would be great and who knows maybe one day we could see a Tonga vs Samoa series played across three or four games hosted by either country because the talent demands such an arena.

But to tell a player to turn down the Kiwis when they come a'knocking, would be extremely dumb, especially when they may have idolized Kiwis and All Blacks their entire lives. That might be their dream, heck their dream might be to switch it up every year, who knows. It's a tricky one.