Just a year after the grand finalists were almost completely snubbed by Kangaroo selectors, Melbourne and Brisbane have extra incentive to perform in Sunday's NRL decider with up to 16 players in contention for the Australian side.

After Canterbury beat Brisbane in the 1998 decider, 11 of the players from that match were chosen for the 17-man Australian team to face New Zealand that year - but that record is likely to be smashed when selectors sit down to pick their team for the opening Tri Nations clash.

That's in stark contrast to last year, when only Scott Prince (Wests Tigers) and Luke O'Donnell (North Queensland) made the end-of-season tour.

And Queensland could have its biggest representation in a Kangaroos team ever, with all of the contenders bar Melbourne centre Matt King aligned with the southern state.

In 1998, 12 Maroons were chose for the two end-of season Tests against New Zealand, with the current Origin title holders again likely to dominate in the selection boardroom.

While Australian chairman of selectors Bob McCarthy was barred from discussing candidates following an edict from ARL supremos, chief executive Geoff Carr indicated Brisbane and Melbourne would figure prominently in selection discussions.

"Historically the grand final is a pointer to players that can play under pressure," Carr said.

"We've always felt that if you can handle the pressure of grand final football you can handle international football.

"If you play well in the grand final, you always give yourself a shot at selection.

"They're the best two teams in the comp and both have some quality players and many would be in line for representative selection.

"We'll be interested to see how they go."

Brisbane players in the frame for Australian honours are Justin Hodges, Brent Tate, Karmichael Hunt, Darren Lockyer, Shaun Berrigan, Petero Civoniceva, Sam Thaiday, Brad Thorn and Tony Carroll.

Melbourne players in contention are King, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith, Ryan Hoffman and Dallas Johnson.

Slater on Monday even called for props Antonio Kaufusi and Brett White to be considered, although it's unlikely they'd be considered ready for Test football.

And Kiwi coach Brian McClennan raised the stakes by on Monday indicating the Broncos' Greg Eastwood, Tame Tupou and Storm trio Jake Webster, David Kidwell and Adam Blair were also in the mix.

Asked if the Storm deserved to be rewarded by Australian selectors for their dominant season, King said: "The short answer is `yes'".

"Cam Smith is obviously a shoo-in with Bedsy (Danny Buderus) not playing and Greg Inglis, they'd be crazy to leave him out," he said.

"Guys like Ryan Hoffman and Cooper Cronk really have to be in the mix.

"Dallas Johnson too and Mick Crocker (injured) would have gone close.

"Hopefully with our consistent year, fingers crossed and a good performance on Sunday night, we'll get more represented."

Slater said: "I wouldn't be surprised if Brett White and Antonio Kaufusi are rewarded with representative jerseys.

"You could go through our whole side and the majority of them are worth a mention."

Cronk said he was more concerned with Sunday's result rather than the Australian halfback jersey.

"Those things will sort themselves out after the GF, we'll leave that to the selectors."

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