England back-rower John Bateman has refused to elaborate on reports linking him with a potential return to the NRL with the Wests Tigers.
Bateman enjoyed two successful seasons with Canberra in 2019 and 2020 before returning to Super League side Wigan.
A Wigan spokesman told AAP there had been no official approach for Bateman's services.
The 29 year-old has a contract until the end of the 2024 season and was not about to give the story more airtime ahead of England's World Cup quarter-final with Papua New Guinea.
"I'm pretty sure I'm here to talk about England and the World Cup," Bateman said.
"I'll talk to you about that after the World Cup. I want to focus on the World Cup, to be fair."
Bateman will be part of an England side aiming for redemption against the Kumuls.
He featured in the Great Britain Lions team - which was England in all-but name - that lost to PNG in Port Moresby in 2019.
It was the first time a Great Britain or England side had been defeated by the Kumuls in 29 years.
"It was pretty embarrassing, that whole tour was embarrassing," Bateman said.
"We hadn't lost to them for so many years and they handed it to us.
"I think a few of the boys who played in that game are looking forward to this weekend.
"It's the main sport over there and they put the game in high esteem. They'll be coming out all guns firing and looking forward to getting stuck into us."
