Former Blues coach Laurie Daley and former assistant Paul McGregor would be leading contenders should Cleary not pursue the role. This masthead has been told that Canberra coach Ricky Stuart, who has coached the Blues on two separate occasions, wants to make the Raiders his sole focus.

The other talking point at Thursday’s fan fest was the tackle that initially injured Nathan Cleary’s shoulder. Melbourne forward Josh King rubbished suggestions he was trying to injure the Panthers playmaker.

“I certainly wasn’t trying to do any wrestling moves or anything like that, that people have come out and said,” King said.

“I would assume that that sort of tackle would happen multiple times a game. I don’t think there was anything in it, I certainly don’t have any grievances against Nathan. It is what it is.”

Asked if Cleary’s shoulder - the halfback reaggravated the injury in the preliminary final win against the Sharks - would be a target, King said: “I’m not on social media to be fair, so I haven’t seen all the reports about that.

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“I think both sides, the forwards, that’s their job to get the teams going forward. I don’t think there’s any secret about that.”

Nathan Cleary said the King tackle was never a talking point.

“Not at all,” Cleary said. “Honestly, I didn’t even think of it at the time. It was just one of those unlucky positions and it’s just an injury.

“It’s unfortunate, a lot of things have to happen and it’s a contact sport. I didn’t even think about that after.”