While a career-best season can create a host of opportunities and rewards for young NRL players, for Canberra Raiders outside back Sebastian Kris, a remarkable campaign has forced him to choose his international allegiance.

After a breakthrough campaign that saw him finish with a career-best 14 tries from 20 appearances and tie with Hudson Young as the clubโ€™s top try-scorer, Kris received a call from New Zealand coach Michael Maguire, asking where his loyalties lay ahead of the World Cup.

Kris has both New Zealand and Torres Strait Islander heritage, which makes him eligible to represent Australia or New Zealand. After a chat with his coach, senior players and โ€“ most importantly โ€“ his mum, Kris had some welcome news for Maguire.

Kris is now one of six Canberra players named by Maguire for the upcoming tournament, and heโ€™s champing at the bit to make the most of the opportunity.

โ€œIt was a good thing for me I was named in the squad,โ€ Kris told the Canberra Times.

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โ€œIโ€™ve always looked up to my mum and sheโ€™s from New Zealand. Iโ€™ve always been proud of that part of who I am.

โ€œIt wasnโ€™t an easy choice, but it was the right one for me and Iโ€™m sticking with it.

โ€œI did talk to a few of the older (Raiders players) and โ€˜Stickโ€™ (coach Ricky Stuart) about their opinion. I took that all in and came to the decision that itโ€™s good for my career, my learning, to make the most of this opportunity.โ€

Kris has stepped up massively this year in the absence of Raiders club icon Jarrod Croker, and his efforts havenโ€™t gone unnoticed by his teammates.

โ€œSeb is a freak. Heโ€™s had a great year,โ€ said Jack Wighton.

โ€œIโ€™ve got a lot of respect for him, Iโ€™m very proud of him.โ€

โ€œHe was tossing up (about his Test future), he had a few chats with me about what to do and heโ€™s gone with his heart. Iโ€™m excited for him.โ€

Kris will join fellow Raiders Josh Papalii, Corey Harawira-Naera, Jordan Rapana, Joseph Tapine, Matthew Timoko and outgoing fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in Maguire's squad for the tournament.

Maguire's team kick off their World Cup campaign against Lebanon in Warrington on October 16.