At this point in the season, it's generally premature to suggest a coaching change is necessary.
There remains hope, as teams can bounce back and perhaps those early struggles are merely temporary blips, not signs of deeper issues.
However, for the North Queensland Cowboys and Manly Sea Eagles, the year 2026 stands out as potentially pivotal, one that could shape their trajectory for years to come.
There's a prominent candidate in mind for head coach: Willie Peters.
Typically, teams wouldn't feel rushed to make a decision this soon, but with the PNG Chiefs poised to name their first head coach shortly and Peters rumored to be a strong contender, this might be the ideal moment for the Cowboys or Sea Eagles to act.
It's plausible that discussions with Peters are already underway, which might lead him to decline the Chiefs' position, but that's still uncertain.
If the NRL can secure Peters for the coaching role, they're likely to do so, even while competing with other viable candidates such as PNG national coach Jason Demetriou.
Peters has the experience and credentials to thrive in the NRL; there's no denying his readiness.