The search search for a new chief executive takes the Parramatta Eels to the other side of the world, with former St Helens powerbroker Mike Rush emerging as the frontrunner to take the reins at the blue and gold.
The vacancy opened up after Jim Sarantinos exited the role last week, leaving Parramatta searching for fresh leadership off the field.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Rush has already sat down with Eels, having meetings about uprooting his life and family to start in Australia.
The Eels missed the finals for the fourth year in a row, a season that began with promise when the club claimed the NRL Pre-season Challenge in February under Jason Ryles and skipper Mitchell Moses, only for form to fade once the competition proper got underway.
Rush has built a one-club romance, working 27 years at St Helens, the last thirteen of them spent running the operation as chief executive before he walked away in February this year.
The departure he described at the time was the hardest decision of his professional life.
Before ascending to the role, Rush had cut his teeth through virtually every department the Saints had to offer, which includes roles as the head of youth, performance, assistant coach, interim head coach, and general manager.
When he was interim head coach in 2012, Rush led the side to 18 wins from 25 games after Royce Simmons was axed.
By the time he departed, the trophy cabinet told its own story, with Grand Final wins, Challenge Cups and a World Club Challenge triumph among them.
Currently, he is not the only name on Parramatta's shortlist, though.
At least one other senior rugby league executive remains under active consideration.
Andrew Mikhail, who spent six years in blue and gold, including a stretch as chief commerical officer, was long considered a live contender, but he has since taken himself out of the running after accepting a senior role with Football Auystralia.
Mikhail had most recently been steering the ship as managing director of Professional Fighters League Pacific, adding combat sports to an already varied executive resume before this latest career pivot.
When Parramatta begun their search for CEO, it was reported at the time that the club pursued Penrith's Matt Cameron.
However, he had expressed he wasn't interested in taking the role.
For Parramatta, landing Rush would mean bringing in a leader steeped in sustaind success, exactly the kind of stability the club will be hoping can translate from the Super League into the board room at the Eels.
