Andrew Johns has endorsed Brad Fittler as the man to lead NSW into a new era - not him.
Fittler has emerged as the early favourite to take over the Blues' head coaching position after Laurie Daley was on Friday sacked by the NSWRL board.
Fittler has coached NSW City for the last six years, will guide Lebanon at the upcoming World Cup and worked as an assistant coach during Daley's reign.
He also oversaw the Blues' under-16s and -18s win over Queensland this year.
Eighth Immortal Johns said Fittler was in the best position to take over the vacant post.
"There's plenty of guys out there. I think maybe Brad Fittler, I think he'd suit it," Johns told the Nine Network on Friday.
Fittler was coy when asked whether he'd put his hand up for the role.
"I'm still getting used to it. I think everyone was under the assumption that Laurie was going to get another job," Fittler said.
"I think everyone is till consuming what's happening today and getting their head around what's happened."
The Blues' most successful Origin coach, Phil Gould, described the NSWRL's axing of Daley as "wise" but urged them to be patient before appointing his successor.
"I wouldn't appoint another coach until after Christmas," he said.
"I would sit and think about what they want this NSW campaign to look like and how they can get it back to something where they can compete with Queensland on a regular basis."
Fittler believes a call should be made before the summer.
"It's still quite sensitive at this stage. The dust is still settling. You can feel this is going to be a feeding frenzy over who is going to be the next NSW coach," he said.
"I don't think I totally agree with Gus - they should appoint a coach before the pre-season."
Fittler, Manly and NSW assistant John Cartwright and Canberra assistant coach Dean Pay have had their names thrown up as contenders to take over from Daley.
NSWRL chairman George Peponis said the Blues' coaching staff would be restructured and were open to a club coach taking on the Origin role.
Johns said he would consider coming onto the Blues coaching staff as an advisor or assistant but reiterated he didn't want the top job.
"I've never coached before, so no," Johns said.
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