"If they want to go and pursue that, how you could stop them? How could you be grumpy with them? Loading "I would hope they would want to stay and to try do what we can here at the Roosters but in saying that… I guess it’s a stepping stone, really. "You’re only an assistant coach for so long. Eventually, you go into a head coach role. I definitely think both of them are pretty worthy candidates for a head coach job." Fitzgibbon is considered a more likely choice than O'Brien, who is understood to be reluctant to leave Sydney.

If the Titans do opt to hand Fitzgibbon the reins, Friend said the club would be "lucky" to have a high-calibre coach who "demands excellence" from his players. "I played with Fitzy and I have been lucky enough to have him [as a coach] for maybe nine years now," Friend said. "He’s always into me about my defence and whatever else. He demands excellence. "I think the way he played the game is the way he is attacking his job and his life. "He will do whatever he has to do. He has been a big part of my career and a big part of the Roosters.

"He’s someone that I have always looked up to and still do, and it is pretty cool to have a guy like him in the club. "He’s always trying to teach you something new." Craig Fitzgibbon is considered an NRL head coach in waiting. Credit:NRL Photos Outside of the touted Roosters pair, the Titans' options appear relatively limited despite Watt's insistence "strongly credentialled candidates" have already emerged. "Already there have been a number of approaches, either directly or through agents, confidentially, putting forward some strongly credentialled candidates," Watt said.

"We will work our way through that." Kevin Walters may not have made a public push for the job when asked in the immediate aftermath of Brennan's sacking but he remains a primary target for the Titans. Kevin Walters is still in the mix for the Titans job. Credit:AAP Watt indicated Walters would be a "very strong candidate" if he put his hand up. Whether Walters makes the first move remains a sticking point between the two parties, however, as the Maroons coach distanced himself from the job on Sunday.

"Clearly, if Kevvie put his hand up to be in the running, he would be a very strong candidate," Watt said. "He's a strong character and I think the way he has led his life has been quite inspirational. "I think he showed on Wednesday night in the Origin decider that he was able to extract more than anyone thought from that Queensland side. For them to still be in the running at the end of that game was... I thought that was an outstanding coaching effort. "Clearly, if Kevvie was willing and available and prepared to put his hand up then he’d be strongly in consideration." Whether the Titans settle on Walters, Fitzgibbon, O'Brien or a candidate from left field remains to be seen but Watt stressed the appointment would be "critical" to ensuring the future of a club which prominent figures such as Brad Fittler have suggested should be moved to Brisbane.