Barrett in line for Kangaroos return

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The 30-year-old former St George Illawarra skipper was thought to have brought the curtain down on his international career when he joined the Warriors on a three-year contract in 2006.

But he is cutting short his stay in Super League because his wife Kylie is pregnant and homesick and, after securing an early release from the last 12 months of his Wigan contract, has signed a two-year deal with Cronulla. That will open up the possibility of Barrett adding to his 11 Test caps during the World Cup in October.

Barrett, who turned down approaches from South Sydney and Canberra as well as his former St George club to link up with Australia coach Ricky Stuart at the Sharks, could fill Darren Lockyer's role if the Brisbane stand-off fails to recover from the knee injury which ruled him out of the centenary Test in May.

Australia Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr insisted Barrett was not eligible for representative honours while he was playing for Wigan but, as he was returning next season, he would be considered for the World Cup.

Carr said a precedent was set two years ago when centre Jamie Lyon left St Helens to return to Australia and was immediately chosen for the 2006 Tri-Nations Series.

By the same token, England-bound duo Michael Crocker and Danny Buderus are likely to forfeit their chance to play in the World Cup after signing for Hull and Leeds respectively.

Carr said: "Players know if they don't play in the NRL their likelihood of selection is extremely limited.

"So if they make the decision to go and play overseas, representative footy historically is out of reach."