Interim NZ Warriors coach Todd Payten seems about to be named as Paul Green's replacement at North Queensland Cowboys.
The Daily Telegraph reports Payten will be unveiled in coming days on a three-year deal worth $1.5m, starting in 2021.
The Cowboys have been on the search for a new head coach since Paul Green departed the role in July.
Cowboys great Josh Hannay has served as an interim after Green's departure, but he hasn't enjoyed the success Payten has with the Warriors.
Payten's stocks as a head coach have risen dramatically over the last two months, after he took over as Warriors head coach from Stephen Kearney.
The Warriors have won four of their last five encounters and are four points outside the NRL's top eight with four games remaining.
Earlier this month, Payten revealed on NRL 360 he'd been offered the Warriors job on a permanent basis, but turned down the role, as he wanted to return to Australia, where his wife's father had just started chemotherapy.
Instead, the Warriors appointed former Newcastle Knights coach Nathan Brown on a three-year deal.
Payten is familiar with the Cowboys set-up, as he was part of Green's coaching staff when they won the 2015 Grand Final and again two years later, when they lost to Melbourne Storm in the decider.
Injuries to key players have seen the Cowboys struggle this season. They sit 14th on the NRL ladder, with nine consecutive losses.
Payten apparent appointment by the Cowboys has met with plenty of praise, with former Parramatta Eels halfback Peter Sterling claiming he should contend for Dally M Coach of the Year.
"For him to turn down the Warriors job, I think it made him more attractive elsewhere, because he had things in perspective," says Sterling. "He gave reasons why he wasn't taking the job,
"I think there is character there And if you want to bring in a new coach, you want one with character and he's shown that.
"He can win Dally M Interim Coach of the Year," he says, tongue in cheek.
The Warriors face the Eels in their next match on Sunday.
Join us at 6pm Sunday for live updates of the Warriors v Eels NRL clash