Steve Menzies hasn’t ruled out a return to the NRL after committing to play in this weekend’s Auckland Nines.

Menzies was officially named in Manly’s squad for the inaugural tournament on Tuesday alongside Sea Eagles stars Daly Cherry-Evans, Jorge Taufua and David Williams.

The Manly great joins Brad Fittler on the comeback trail for the Eden Park event.

But unlike Fittler, 42, who hung up the boots 10 seasons ago, 40-year-old Menzies played his last game for Super League’s Catalans Dragons in September.

Menzies’ contract submitted with the NRL will only run for the length of the Nines tournament but the Sea Eagles’ longest-serving player said he wouldn’t knock back a return to first grade if the club needed him.

“There is a lot of things to happen before that came about, they would need to be in dire straits with lots of injuries, but it is Manly so I would have to consider it,” Menzies said.

“At the moment I’m just proud to be back in the maroon and white, I haven’t played in it in five years.

“I’m excited about playing in the Nines, it is a really great concept.

“I just hope they don’t stick me out on the wing.”

One more NRL appearance would make Menzies the most capped first grader of all time. He currently sits along Canterbury legend Terry Lamb on the all-time list with 349 games played.

He last played for Manly in their 2008 grand final win.

Menzies said it was Fittler’s return to the Sydney Roosters that inspired him – after Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai and Anthony Watmough were ruled out for the Sea Eagles due to injury.

“After Freddie (Fittler) announced he was going to play it was always in the back of my mind ‘could I do it’,” Menzie said.

“But until someone asks you and you get through the training it is all `what ifs’ but that all came about the last couple of days.

“It’s a great thing me and Freddie being back, it adds another dimension to the tournament.”