Brad Fittler medal winner Josh Jackson has put his hand up to take over from the retiring Paul Gallen as the NSW State of Origin captain next year.
After he was voted by his peers as this year's best Blues' player, Jackson has welcomed the possibility of leading them down the tunnel against Queensland next season.
"Of course, I'd absolutely love to do it," Jackson told AAP.
"But there's a number of other guys there that are more than capable of doing it as well.
"The fact that there is so many guys there, will make it easier for the person who does get the nod."
Jackson is firmly entrenched in the Blues back row after starting all three games on the right edge this season.
He has now played six Origin games in a row since his debut in 2015.
With Gallen departing and veteran hooker Robbie Farah without a club for next season, NSW coach Laurie Daley is likely to shake up his leadership group.
"But there's a lot of leaders at their club here already, so hopefully we can create a good culture moving forward. And a successful one too," Jackson said.
The Canterbury star also backed under-fire coach Des Hasler to remain at the NRL club despite falling short of an elusive premiership in his fifth-straight post-season appearance at Belmore.
The Bulldogs have made two grand finals under his tenure, but were blasted out of this year's finals by Penrith in week one.
They lost their final four games of the year.
"I can't see anyone else that could come in and do a better job than Des. He's the ultimate professional. He's got the respect of all the players and staff at the club," Jackson said.
The Bulldogs second-rower also defended the team's game plan, saying that their forwards-based style of play had provided the plenty of success in recent years.
"The last six weeks is more individual errors for us more than the structural side of things. We've had success over the last few years from that structure and the game plan," he said.
