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The NRL integrity unit's lead investigator Karyn Murphy is leaving the role, after seven years, to become Gold Coast's new NRLW coach.
The NRL is on the look out for a new chief investigator for its integrity unit with Karyn Murphy to depart and take on the job of Gold Coast's NRLW team.
In the biggest shake up to the integrity unit in its existence, Murphy has told the NRL she plans to finish up in a matter of months and end a seven-year stint in the crucial role.
The move to the Titans will make her just the second female to be head coach of an NRL or NRLW side -- after Warriors women's coach Luisa Avaiki in the competition's inaugural season of 2018.
But the shift has bigger ramifications for the NRL.
Murphy is by far the longest serving head of the integrity unit, having taken on the position just two years after it was formed in 2013.
She brought 25 years of experience in the Queensland Police Force to the integrity unit, and was once named the Australian Female Police Investigator of the Year.
Murphy's rugby league credentials are equally as impressive -- including 27 Tests for Australia and 13 years as Jillaroos captain.
In her role with the NRL she has led the probes into the Mitchell Pearce Australia Day scandal of 2016 through to the determinations on the no-fault stand-down policy.
Included in that has been the NRL's summer from hell in 2018-19, several salary cap investigations and breaches as well as claims of match-fixing and illegal bets placed by players.
Such is the length of Murphy's tenure that it has lasted across three NRL chief executives and as many chairmen.
It is no exaggeration to label her one of the most crucial figures at NRL headquarters.
"Karyn has been a wonderful leader and contributor in an important and difficult area for us," NRL CEO Andrew Abdo told AAP.
"She has been with us from the start and she has helped develop our systems and investigated some complex and important matters for the game.
"Her skills, experience and integrity have been exemplary.
"I'm pleased she is staying in the game to help grow women's participation and elite performance at the Titans, but she has left big shoes to fill in terms of her contribution."
AAP understands that the NRL will now search externally for a replacement, with Murphy's exit due before the next women's competition commences in August.
Murphy will succeed Jamie Feeney as Titans coach after he guided them to the NRLW semi-finals in their first season.
With Murphy at the helm and also in charge of the entire Titans' women's program, she will have immense recruiting power as arguably the game's finest-ever player.
"Karyn is an icon of our game and someone who is highly respected for what she has achieved and we are thrilled that she will be joining us," Titans CEO Steve Mitchell said.
Feeney's exit follows Newcastle's foundation coach Casey Bromilow being axed after a winless opening season.
