Powerful South Sydney owner Russell Crowe has urged the NRL to consider Shane Richardson as the game's next chief executive.
Richardson has not appeared on the initial list of likely candidates to replace Todd Greenberg, after leaving the Rabbitohs last month.
However he has previous experience working for the NRL, having filled the role as head of strategy and game development in 2015.
Richardson has also spent more than 20 years in the game as an administrator, after stints at Cronulla and Penrith before his lengthy time as Souths supremo.
He was also the CEO who broke the premiership drought at Crowe's Rabbitohs, at the helm of the club for the 2014 title.
The Hollywood star also pushed the NRL to have a league person in the top job, with Richardson one of the longest serving administrators in clubs.
Richardson is the only high-profile club person to have left the game during the coronavirus hiatus so far, claiming he was walking away to save money at the Rabbitohs.
However there is some argument his appointment could split the game. Former NSW State of Origin half Braith Anasta was particularly critical of Richardson's Souths exit, and whether he'd taken a pay out.
And he claimed on Tuesday night that there were many in the game not supportive of the Rabbitohs supremo.
"We all know what I thought of Shane's exit from Souths," Anasta told Fox League Live.
"At the time he didn't answer that question – if he had a job lined up at the NRL … which meant he was going for it.
"Shane has a lot of enemies in the game, and I know that just from the feedback I received after I spoke about his exit at Souths. I just can't see it working."
Russell Crowe and Shane Richardson. Photo / Getty
Stand-in chief executive Andrew Abdo remains the front runner to keep the job, while Souths CEO Blake Solly has already said he is not interested.
Brisbane legend Gorden Tallis has dismissed calls for Broncos CEO Paul White to take the job, arguing the new boss had to come from outside club land.
White on Tuesday refused to say if he was interested in becoming Greenberg's replacement, insisting his focus was on Brisbane during the coronavirus.
However, the timing could make sense for the veteran chief executive. White has already indicated he plans on leaving the Broncos at the end of the year, and has been heavily involved in NRL committees in recent months.
But Tallis, a former Broncos, Queensland and Australia captain, said he did not believe White or any club administrator was the right man for the job. "The simple answer is no," Tallis told Fox League Live.
"Because I think if you've come from the game like Todd (Greenberg) there has got to be some sort of skeleton in the closet.
"When you come in and have got to rule with an iron fist, I don't think you can do it if you come from club land.
"There is jealousy and you get promoted and you jump over people and you do the same job as 15 guys in the competition.
"And all of a sudden you get elevated above them and tell them how much funding they can have, so I think there is a bit of jealousy."
Greenberg was the first NRL chief executive to come from a history at a club since the Super League war, given his previous job as Canterbury chief executive.
Of the NRL's likely candidates, stand-in chief executive Abdo is one of the few without a club background.
White has been floated as an option alongside Melbourne boss Dave Donaghy, Canberra chief Don Furner and South Sydney CEO Solly.
Furner and Solly have both said they are not interested in the position. NSW Rugby League chief David Trodden is another possible option, and also has a history as Wests Tigers chairman.
"If we go to someone in club land they have their own alliances with certain clubs," Tallis claimed.
"Peter [V'landys] has been a fresh breath of air [as chairman] because he's not in anyone's pocket in the game and he can make a decision that is best for rugby league."
