Fairfax Media has reported that NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Nationals Leader John Barilaro have agreed to meet and settle which Coalition party should run for the Wagga byelection.

Both Coalition parties had been searching for candidates since Wagga MP Daryl Maguire resigned from the Liberal Party this month following an anti-corruption hearing.

The Coalition leaders’ meeting opens up the possibility of the Nationals running in Wagga despite Ms Berekjiklian saying on Saturday that only the Liberals would run.

Ms Berejiklian made the comments after announcing that Mr Maguire would resign from parliament entirely, which Mr Maguire later confirmed in a written statement.

Ms Berekjiklian declaring the Liberals would be the only Coalition party to run in Wagga created significant unrest within the National Party, with members urging Mr Barilaro to find a way to contest the Liberal enclave.

Prior to reports of a Coalition meeting today, Riverina MP and federal National Party leader Michael McCormack called on the best candidate to run for the Coalition in Wagga.

“I have seen firsthand how many important and much-needed projects have been funded and delivered thanks to the Federal Liberal & Nationals’ Government working with the NSW Liberal & Nationals’ Government around the Wagga Wagga electorate,” Mr McCormack said.

“I want the best possible representative for the people of Wagga Wagga and am pushing hard for that.

“NSW Labor neglected our region, while independents and minor parties simply cannot deliver.”

Labor candidate for Wagga Dan Hayes has described the Nationals’ decision on Saturday not to run as a “shambles”.

Wagga residents have been called by a ‘robocall’ polling service this week, asking them to give their opinion on Mr Hayes, former Riverina MP Kay Hull and rumoured Liberal nominee for Wagga Genevieve Fleming.

The company running the ‘robocalls’ is reported to work regularly with the National Party.

Both Coalition leaders were expected to bring poll results to Wednesday’s meeting to debate which party has the best chance of winning Wagga.