The coaching landscape is under scrutiny as the timelines for several clubs tighten, particularly for Cowboys coach Todd Payten and Dragons coach Shane Flanagan.
This renewed focus comes in the wake of contrasting trajectories for the clubs and was the topic of discussion on The Boardroom podcast, hosted by NRL icons Ryan Hoffman and Chad Townsend.
The Cowboys have experienced a dramatic shift in their season after a rocky start, now finding themselves in the top four thanks to a four-game winning streak.
This resurgence has led to increased chatter about what it would take for Payten to receive a contract extension beyond the current season.
On the podcast, Hoffman posed an intriguing question about the future of the Cowboys' coaching strategy.
"Are they delaying the inevitable, or are we seeing a change in a trend?" he pondered regarding the decisions surrounding Payten's future.
He further noted, "We've already seen one head coach go and that's who everyone thought was going to be the next NRL head coach, and that's Willie Peters. He's already committed to the Chiefs."
"The danger, I think, for the Cowboys is whether they make the call and get the first opportunity or wait to see how it goes? And if they don't have a successful season and miss the eight, have they missed the boat in going in a new direction?"
Hoffman also raised questions about what would constitute a successful season for the Cowboys.
"I'm really intrigued by this because I don't think the pass mark is just making the eight," he commented.
"I think they really need to pressure that top four for him to get an extension this year and if he does I hope they do extend him for three or four years because he is obviously putting things in place but for whatever reason it was a really disappointing season for them last year and I think from position six onwards would be a pass mark for the cows."