Premiership-winner Steve Folkes last night became the first high-profile coach to officially declare interest in Newcastle Knights job for 2010.
Contenders will start applying for the Newcastle position vacated by Brian Smith.
Newcastle's board is expected to meet on Monday night to determine whether Smith will be sacked immediately or be allowed to see out the season.
Smith's assistant Rick Stone has support, but it is unlikely Andrew and Matthew Johns would consider going back to coach at their former club.
Others contenders are Folkes, Melbourne Storm assistant coach Michael Maguire, Cronulla, New South Wales and Australia assistant Shane Flanagan and former Dally M coach of the year Graham Murray.
The Daily Telegraph has reported that Folkes is interested in the vacant Knights job.
"Absolutely. It would be a terrific opportunity. I think the value of experience gets a little overlooked at times," he said.
"I think I could go up there and do a good job. Newcastle is a league-mad town and they have a lot of good young players coming through. There have been a few ties between Canterbury and Newcastle over the years - Warren Ryan, Michael Hagan, Mark Sargent have gone between the two clubs."
Murray, who guided the Roosters and North Queensland Cowboys to grand finals, said Newcastle Knights would be a "plum job".