Broncos enforcer Tonie Carroll's international rugby league comeback appears to be over before it could really begin.

New Zealand media reports claimed Carroll had put his hand up for the Kiwis' World Cup campaign this year.

"I've always said I'm a Kiwi. I love being a Kiwi," he told NZTV's One Sport.

"The Kiwi blood is tough and that's what rugby league is about, it's toughness."

One Sport took that as Carroll volunteering his services for New Zealand.

But Carroll later told a News Limited website that he would not be coming out of international retirement.

Carroll - 32 on Sunday - told The Courier-Mail website that he had told the NZTV interviewer he would "love" to play for New Zealand but was "too old".

Christchurch-born Carroll last month said he had retired from representative football and would end his NRL career at the end of the 2008 season.

He played the last of his seven Tests for Australia in 2005.

He had also played five Tests for New Zealand from 2001-03 and contested the 2000 World Cup for the Kiwis.

He also played 18 Origin games for Queensland from 1998.

After the New Zealand media reports broke, ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said technically there wouldn't be a problem with Carroll switching his international allegiances, yet again.

Broncos boss Bruno Cullen also claimed the NRL club wouldn't stand in his way even if he wanted to play in May's Centenary Test against Australia.

But it all appears academic after Carroll clarified his comments.

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