Mal Meninga remains favourite for the vacant Kangaroos coaching position, with the Queensland mentor reportedly interviewed for the role.
The former Canberra star is the first of the candidates, including Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy, to meet with NRL head of football Todd Greenberg, according to News Corp Australia.
Incumbent Tim Sheens opted not to apply for a contract extension, after signing as football director with Salford in the English Super League and leaving the Australian role for which he was reportedly paid $50,000 this year in a part-time capacity.
Sheens had been Australian coach since 2009 when he took over from Ricky Stuart.
If the ARLC decides to make the national coaching position a $300,000-a-year full-time role, Meninga is all but assured of the position given both his rivals are expected to pledge their allegiances to their respective club sides.
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Should the nine-time Origin series-winning coach take on the Kangaroos job on a full-time basis it will be a blow to the Queensland side.
The QRL have confirmed the 55-year-old has still not signed for next season but chief executive Rob Moore says the contract is a work in progress and there were no dramas.
