The New Zealand Rugby League has all but shut the door on the possibility of the Kiwis playing the Kangaroos at the end of the season after two previous approaches from Australian officials amounted to nothing.

With New Zealand set to take Australia's ranking as league's No.1 Test nation after last Sunday's historic 26-12 win in Brisbane, many are asking why the Kangaroos aren't scheduled to play again for 12 months, but Fairfax Media can reveal that officials contacted their Kiwi counterparts late last year and again earlier this year about playing at the end of the season.

The NZRL is keen to host a Test in Auckland as the Kiwis have not played there for three years and the interest is high after three consecutive wins over Australia, including the final of last season's Four Nations and their first mid-season victory since 1998.

However, the Kiwis recently committed to playing Leeds on October 23 in the lead up to their three-Test series against England in a match that will celebrate the 125th anniversary of Headingly Stadium.