Greg Inglis faces a nervous 12-month wait to find out if he will ever captain Australia as Boyd Cordner gets the chance to press his claims to hold onto the coveted role.
Cordner was installed as Kangaroos skipper for this month's rugby league Tests against New Zealand and Tonga when Inglis was suspended for two games after being charged with drink driving and speeding offences.
A day after Inglis was appointed to take over from long-time teammate Cameron Smith, coach Mal Meninga and NRL boss Todd Greenberg stood him down.
Meninga failed to guarantee that Inglis would regain the role when he is welcomed back into the side next year, meaning that if Cordner can impress leading a new-look Kangaroos side, he could retain the role.
"It's hard to say," Meninga said.
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"First and foremost, it's great that Boyd Cordner gets the chance to captain this country, he's had a great year and he's a terrific leader and a great role model for our game.
"I just want to see Greg have a really strong off-season and start the season really well for the Rabbitohs.
"He'll lead Queensland next year and then we'll make some decisions in the back end of next year on who our leaders and captain will be."
Meninga said Inglis had "stuffed up" after allegedly blowing 0.085 and being clocked speeding in Lithgow while returning from the Koori Knockout tournament in Dubbo.
Inglis said he intends to plead guilty to the charges.
Meninga has been integral in Inglis's rise to super stardom with their relationship dating back to 2006 as part of the Queensland State of Origin team.
Meninga would only offer a "maybe" when asked whether Inglis would be considered for the captaincy in the future, and said the side's leadership group would be revisited next year.
It caps a stellar 12 months for Cordner after he led NSW to a breakthrough State of Origin series win and the Sydney Roosters to a grand final victory.
"I know Boyd can handle it really well. He'll grab it. He was excited by it yesterday," Meninga said.
"He was disappointed for Greg because they get on so well.
"He's a comrade in arms, he would have loved for Greg to be playing but he's accepted it, we know he's going to do a terrific job."
