A Liberal Member of Parliament, who requested anonymity, recently stated that replacing Speakman was a necessary decision.

“Reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated, and I’m here to fight,” he remarked to 2GB radio, echoing a famous quote from 19th-century American author Mark Twain.

“We’ve suffered significant damage to our reputation due to the chaos in Canberra, and our task now is to ensure we have a clear path forward,” he added.

During a heated parliamentary question time on Thursday, Speakman was visibly animated, while Premier Chris Minns remained composed.

Sloane, a former television news anchor who joined parliament in 2023, is widely regarded as a strong contender, whereas Henskens enjoys backing from the right-wing faction.

Sloane, a former TV news anchor elected to parliament in 2023, has been widely tipped as the most credible challenger, while Henskens has support from the right faction.

Kellie Sloane is widely tipped to replace Mark Speakman as leader of the NSW Liberals. Source: AAP / Bianca De Marchi

Speakman confirmed reports three Liberals approached him for a conversation on Wednesday night, but maintained he had not been “tapped on the shoulder”.