Mal Meninga says he expects Kalyn Ponga will want to represent Australia in the future, after the NRL issued Newcastle with a "please explain" over his withdrawal.
Meninga suffered another blow to his Kangaroos squad on Thursday, with Ivan Cleary confirming his son Nathan will probably need shoulder surgery after the season.
That is likely to leave Daly Cherry-Evans as the Kangaroos' chief halfback for the Pacific Championships, after initially fearing he would lose out to Cleary.
And Meninga confirmed Canterbury winger Jacob Kiraz is also out due to his back injury, while AAP understands Dylan Edwards is in serious doubt with his knee issue.
But all eyes remain on Ponga and the handling of his public withdrawal from the selection race on Tuesday.
The NRL was on Thursday still awaiting answers from the Knights, with potential sanctions for them or Ponga if he does not make himself available.
Meninga confirmed on Thursday the first he knew of Ponga's withdrawal was via Newcastle's statement, and the process had been what frustrated him the most.
"I think he wants to play for his country, but just at the moment that's not on his agenda," the Kangaroos coach said on SEN radio.
"He wants to devote and repay the Knights for how they have stuck by him. I think that is a fair excuse.
“It’s the process that we need to improve, we need to get better communication out of the clubs and players and vice versa, that process needs to improve."
Rugby League Players Association chief executive Clint Newton admitted on Thursday the situation should have been handled better, but that media scrutiny of Ponga's decision had become overwhelming.
"There's no doubt there's a misstep here with regard to Kalyn contacting Mal and working through that process, but it was done with pure intentions," he told Triple M.
"I just don't think we need to go down a path where the character of an individual is getting assassinated for making a decision that he feels is best for him."
Meninga said he could understand players being fatigued at the end of a season, and sympathised with them given the current workloads for the game's elite.
But he was adamant that should be no excuse for a player to make themselves unavailable for Australian selection.
"Through the licence agreements every club has to make their players available for representative duties unless they are injured or there is some other reason," Meninga said.
"That's the facts. It's not about you're too tired or fatigued.
"I am well aware all players put their body and mind through a tough year.
"There is not one player who is not looking after some injury, not one player who doesn't need rehab to get over the toughness of the year.
"So it's no excuse. If you're fit and healthy to play rep footy, then you should make yourself available."
Meninga also confirmed he expected the battered and bruised Tom Trbojevic to be available, after avoiding shoulder surgery.
Trbojevic could play centre or fullback for the Kangaroos, with James Tedesco now the most likely No.1.
Meninga's comments came as Ivan Cleary confirmed his son Nathan was "highly likely" to require post-season shoulder surgery.
Cleary is undergoing full training loads ahead of Saturday's grand final qualifier against Cronulla but is still participating in rehabilitation, having missed three weeks on the run to finals.
"It'd be highly likely he'll have surgery, I'd say," coach Cleary said.
"But we'll just get through what we need to do and weigh up the risks and options."
Incumbent NSW halfback Mitch Moses is still recovering following biceps surgery, and would require further consultation to be declared fit for the tournament.
