There appears no clear candidate to lead NSW out of the State of Origin mire after Brad Fittler walked away from the job following two consecutive series defeats.
Just last week, Fittler pitched a coaching overhaul to the NSW Rugby League (NSWRL) board, with ex-Blues supremo Phil Gould slated to return as an adviser, and Matt King and Dean Young to join as assistants.
The NSWRL had offered Fittler the job for 2024, but on Thursday afternoon the head coach ended a six-year tenure that yielded three series wins and as many defeats.
The decision leaves chairman Paul Conlon and the NSWRL board to reconsider their options for next year.
No other candidate has put their hand up for the now-vacant position, largely out of respect for Fittler.
NSWRL policy currently dictates they will only consider candidates who are not employed as head coaches in the NRL.
But it is possible the governing body would be open to revising this rule given the lack of clear options available outside club land.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart and Cronulla's Craig Fitzgibbon are two obvious options for the Blues, having previously been involved as head coach and assistant respectively.
In June, Stuart was coy when asked whether he would consider taking the role, pointing to the policy of not hiring current head coaches, while Melbourne mentor Craig Bellamy, Blues coach between 2008 and 2010, shut down talk of a possible return.
Penrith's back-to-back premiership-winning coach Ivan Cleary worked with Fittler as an adviser for game three this year and could be another option if the rule was relaxed.
There appears a dearth of options away from club land.
Assistant coaches for this year's series, Greg Alexander and Paul McGregor are unlikely to put their hands up, having committed to walking away as part of Fittler's proposed overhaul.
Laurie Daley, Fittler's predecessor, is currently working with a gambling company and would need to quit that role to come into consideration.
Canberra assistant Michael Maguire, a premiership-winning mentor with South Sydney, has his hands full also coaching New Zealand's international team.
Geoff Toovey and Trent Barrett are other options, but the former has not coached first-grade since 2015, while the latter posted only a 15 per cent winning record across the 34 games of his most recent top job, at Canterbury.
