Andrew Abdo will be flung into one of the toughest jobs in Australian sport when he replaces Todd Greenberg as the acting NRL boss on Tuesday.
The game's chief commercial operator for the past six years, Abdo has been charged with bringing money into the sport.
Now, the chartered accountant will need to manage the game through it's biggest financial crisis.
Abdo isn't universally known by rugby league fans but he has been highly thought of in the NRL for some time and is well supported by ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys.
He has been behind the game's branding for seasons and was this year the man put in charge of the controversial 'Simply the Best' remake.
His influence has also been growing.
More recently, he was taken to the United States for meetings with streaming companies alongside V'landys.
Just earlier this month he landed on the NRL's Project Apollo committee under commissioner Wayne Pearce, where there was no spot at the table for Greenberg.
Whether he retains the CEO role in the long-term is not known but there's little doubt he will be one of the leading candidates.
Another could be V'landys himself, although that would require him taking on the role of executive chairman, something not done in a full-time capacity since the introduction of the ARLC.
Regardless, it's likely V'landys will have an increased involvement in the game.
Beyond them, South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly is the preferred option from club land.
He was the general manager of the English Super League for two years before landing at the Rabbitohs and has recently been on several NRL committees.
Brisbane boss Paul White has joined Solly in a number of recent talks with the NRL and has previously stated he plans on leaving the Broncos at the end of this year.
Canberra boss Don Furner and Melbourne chief executive Dave Donaghy are among other respected figures as bosses at clubs.
NSW Rugby League boss David Trodden is also highly regarded after six years in his role.
Meanwhile, former Penrith supremo Phil Gould recently insisted he had no interest in filling the boots of Greenberg.
Gould would naturally carry favour with broadcasters Nine but has never held a chief executive role and said earlier this month he had no interest in becoming one.
"I'm not a CEO, simple as that," he said on his Six Tackles with Gus podcast earlier this month.
"I never have been and I've never purported to be.
"That's a specialised position in any organisation, in any football club and I've never held that position.
"I've never desired to hold that position, it's not who I am."
NRL CEOs SINCE THE SUPER LEAGUE WAR
* Neil Whittaker (1998-1999)
* David Moffett (1999-2001)
* David Gallop (2002-2012)
* David Smith (2013-2015)
* Todd Greenberg (2016-2020)