Kiwis prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona in action during the test against England in Denver.

New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Greg Peters is not yet prepared to write off the Denver test yet despite a lack of support from the NRL.

The NRL and Australian Rugby League Commission on Thursday announced its proposal to overhaul the international calendar which did not include the controversial fixture between the Kiwis and England.

Last month's clash at Mile High Stadium was the first of a three-year deal between the NZRL, England's RFL and promoters Moore Sports to take matches to the US, subject to a review by the NZRL which is currently ongoing.

The NRL clubs were strongly opposed to the match going ahead and their frustrations were compounded when the Kiwis' flight home was delayed by an electrical storm.

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It is hard to see the concept surviving if the clubs are not obligated to release players but Peters says they will have a much clearer idea on the future of the test after the Rugby League International Federation meets in Singapore later this month.

"We're in the middle of a three-year commercial deal and I've said in a number of forums that we want to do a full review after the first year which we're in the process of doing," Peters told Stuff.

"That involves talking to the NRL and talking to England and other interested parties in the event."

A big part of the appeal of playing the test in the US was the financial incentive offered by Moore Sports, reportedly $500,000 per test.

Peters confirmed that the NZRL had yet to be paid but was hopeful it would arrive in the "near future".

"We're on a timeline with Moore Sports that gives them a little bit more time to pay us. But obviously we want to be paid as soon as possible," he said.

Instead of the Denver test, the NRL's plan has the Kiwis playing more tests against Pacific Island nations as part of a three-round Oceania Cup to be split between the June representative round and the end of the season.

Two separate Four Nations tournaments would also be played in 2020, with Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa to play an Oceania Polynesian competition and England, France, Fiji and Papua New Guinea to feature in a European-based version.

The Kiwis host Australia in October and they would continue to play annually, while work has began to kick off a new international Nines tournament at the end of next year.

Peters expressed support for some of the NRL's plans but said stressed that the RLIF would have the final say.

"I have seen a proposal from the NRL but it is a proposal and there's a lot more water to go under the bridge yet," Peters said.

"Having an international calendar that makes sense involving the Pacific Islands and regular tests against the Kangaroos and against other tier one countries is critical for us.

"Some of the elements the NRL have put forward we'd definitely support but we need to see how that jigsaw fits together.

"I don't think we can jump to the conclusion that what they've released is the end result."

Peters comments came after RLIF chief executive Nigel Wood expressed his surprise at the NRL's announcement.

"It is certainly commendable that Australia is now positively engaged in discussing the future of international rugby league," Wood said in a statement. "Nevertheless there are likely to be many surprised about how far the ARLC's new thinking deviates from the position it had previously committed to as part of the RLIF Board in May 2017."

Wood said the RLIF is currently reviewing its strategic plan and is expected to provide feedback on the Denver test at the upcoming meeting.

"The arrangements and negotiations around the Denver test were instructional for all of us and the RLIF took on a responsibility to work with all nations, clubs, players and the players' associations to co-ordinate a calendar that it can sanction well in advance for all parties and the professional leagues to take into account in scheduling and participating in their own domestic competitions," he said.