Former Dubbo policeman and first term New South Wales MP Troy Grant has been elected Deputy Premier and state Nationals leader.

The Gaming, Racing and Hospitality Minister was elected unopposed by the Nationals party room this morning after yesterday's sudden resignation of former leader Andrew Stoner.

Mr Grant avoided a ballot after his main potential rival, Education Minister and Nationals Deputy Leader Adrian Piccoli, decided not to nominate.

The ABC understands the Water Minister Kevin Humphries was also sounding out colleagues yesterday about a potential tilt, but he did not have the numbers.

Mr Grant said he was humbled and honoured to be endorsed by his colleagues.

"I'm now leading the best political party in New South Wales and Australia," he said.

He said he was determined to fight for rural and regional communities.

"I have long described myself as a son of regional New South Wales and there is no greater privilege for me than to lead the party I love and the communities I respect."

Mr Grant was elected as the member for Dubbo in 2011, but has only been a Minister since April.

He has rejected suggestions he does not have the political experience for the job.

Mr Grant said his two decades in the police force had prepared him well for the the leadership and the challenges of managing the Nationals' relationship with its Coalition partners.

"There's no doubt there's many challenges in leadership," he said.

"I've been a leader of many teams in many difficult circumstances.

"Throughout my career I had to take on board much information very quickly, take that in and execute when lives were at risk when public safety was at the forefront."

He said he also had the skills to manage the personalities within his own party.

"Personalities - there's a fair few big ones in the New South Wales police force, let me assure you. And I was a human resource manager for five years of my time in the police force," Mr Grant said.

Real life experience important in leadership: Piccoli

Standing beside his new leader at a press conference after the party room meeting, Mr Piccoli was tight-lipped about why he decided to pull out of the race.

"Today's about Troy," Mr Piccoli said.

He said the party was united behind Mr Grant, who would make a great leader.

"It's the greatness of Troy that has made him the leader and the National Party, if it's anything, it is absolutely democratic and I absolutely respect that and respect the decision of the party.

"You don't need experience in politics, what you need is experience in real life.

"The thing that makes a great leader is not because you know your way around Macquarie Street, it's because you know your way around the main streets of Dubbo, the backstreets of Grafton and the side streets of Coffs Harbour."

Local politicians in western NSW are hopeful the election of a Deputy Premier from west of the Great Dividing Range would lead to better representation for the area.

Dubbo councillor Greg Matthews said the appointment would "put Dubbo firmly at the forefront of state decision making".

Mr Stoner resigned from his leadership positions yesterday, saying his family was dealing with some issues and he needed to spend more time with them.

"I have no job lined up. I'm not under a cloud. I'm simply putting my family first," Mr Stoner said yesterday.

He had been the Nationals leader since 2003 and the deputy premier since the Coalition Government was elected in 2011.