It's the tastiest story in rugby league, and it doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon.
Cameron Ciraldo has taken over as interim coach of the Penrith Panthers after Anthony Griffin was sacked, but with a minimum of four weeks remaining in their 2018 season, many pundits are turning their attention towards 2019 and who will be at the helm at the foot of the mountains.
Wests Tigers coach Ivan Cleary was the man that was being targeted by the Panthers, but he has (somewhat) put those rumours to bed.
Other than Cleary, names being suggested include current NRL coaches Wayne Bennett and Trent Barrett, but Panthers boss Gus Gould wants to give the man currently in charge all the time he needs to be successful.
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"I want to give Cameron every opportunity until the year finishes off," Gould said on 100% Footy.
"I haven't spoken to Ivan, I haven't been part of this at all.
"They're all (the media) going to keep coming up with names until they see me wink or twitch, but, I can honestly tell you that we're doing nothing.
"The thing I know about Cameron is how hard he's worked since he's had that assistant coaching role. He's been a wonderful support to the head coach, he's been very loyal to the head coach and the players love him.
"He's had two grand finals in the U20's where a lot of these players have come from, he's done a lot with these kids.
"I want to give him the chance to take a breath and coach the side for the rest of the season, and I'd be very comfortable if things went well between now and the end of the year that he'd be the head coach going forward."
Recent reports out of Red Hill have revealed that the Broncos may be prepared to push out Wayne Bennett due to a relationship breakdown with the club's chief executive Paul White.
Could Gould and Bennett, two of the biggest personalities in the NRL, work together?
"I haven't heard from Wayne Bennett, I haven't heard from anyone associated with Wayne Bennett, so it's ridiculous for me to even talk about that as being an option," Gus said.
"I don't know what Wayne's doing, I don't think he'll be at the Broncos next year, but I'm sure if Wayne's not there he'll have a plan.
"He certainly hasn't told me what his plan is.
"I could work with anyone, whether he could work with me I don't know."
The other coach that is apparently leaving his club each and every week is Barrett.
The Sea Eagles coach has reportedly filed a legal letter with the club due to being unsatisfied with facilities and resources.
While Manly CEO Lyall Gorman attempted to play down the speculation that Barret might leave, there are still those in the media that believe he's all but gone.
Gould is confident that the letter that was sent by Barrett is only for the benefit of his players.
"I've said all along that Trent Barrett isn't coming back to Penrith," Gould said.
"I don't think he'll leave Manly. I know his manager really well, he won't leave unless he's got another option.
"Part of what's happening here is trying to get the support for the players that they need going forward.
"I don't think he's happy with the facilities, I don't think he's happy with the management, I don't think he's happy with a lot of things about the club.
"Salary cap wise they're struggling for a couple of seasons. They can't recruit or retain anyone that's coming off contract. It's not a good situation for Manly, but Trent is the one to guide them though, football-wise, during that period.
"I don't know what the legal letter is about, I don't know whether he would consider leaving, I don't believe he would."
Gus Gould is a very successful coach, winning premierships with Canterbury and Penrith before taking over the NSW Blues and becoming the most successful Origin coach south of the border.
Considering his accolades, did the man ever consider taking over at Penrith?
"No, that's not what I'm there to do," Gould said.
"I've never been there to do that. I've got full confidence in Cameron Ciraldo, that's why we've put him there at the moment.
"We'll leave it that way until the end of the season, and then we'll sit back and reflect on what's happened.
"We will give these fellas every chance to play their best every week for the rest of the year, and then at the end of the year we'll make a decision on what we want to do in the future."
