Kiwi rugby league great Sir Graham Lowe has called on NZ Warriors to think "outside the square" in their pursuit of a new coach.
Newshub has learned more about the leading prospects to replace Nathan Brown, who has dropped a bombshell, as he revealed the reasons behind his sudden departure from the NRL club.
Brown was a relieved man following the meeting that decided his future.
"I'm very happy with the outcome, mate, very very happy," he told Fox Sport's NRL 360.
"My head coaching days are finished. I told them I’m not going to appear at another club."
Brown and his family had every intention of moving to New Zealand when he joined the club, but after COVID-19, his daughters were no longer prepared to make the move.
"A lot of people in professional sport... I suppose relationships become a statistic, because work becomes more important and I'm just not prepared to do that," he said.
Brown leaves with the lowest win percentage in Warriors history, but he's upbeat about the club's future
"The new coach has got a far better job than I got given and that's important to me," he said.
Sir Graham Lowe says, while a great opportunity awaits, it'll take a special coach to rebuild the club.
"It's a dog's breakfast, really," he told Newshub. "I think you've got to think outside the square and go for someone who's maybe going to do things slightly differently."
So who's in contention?
Kristian Woolf's success with St Helens and Tonga has seen him shoot to the top of the list - but sources indicate he may have already settled on his next club.
Shane Flanagan's controversial past as Cronulla Sharks coach may rule him out of contention, while Panthers assistant Cameron Ciraldo is highly regarded, but also unlikely to move to New Zealand with his young family.
That leaves Michael Maguire - sacked by the Tigers - and Newshub understands the NZ Kiwis coach would be considered.
Meanwhile, club icon Stacey Jones is left to pick up the pieces, as another coaching tenure at the Warriors comes to a close.
Join us at 8:15pm Sunday for live updates of the Warriors v Cronulla Sharks NRL clash
