Publicly National Party MPs and powerbrokers were full of praise for their new leader, but behind closed doors words like “stopgap”, “temporary” and “interim” were being spoken.

Some viewed Mr McCormack as a bridging leader between Barnaby Joyce and the next star performer to emerge from the party’s pack.

Others firmly believed the Riverina MP was merely a seat-filler until Mr Joyce served his penance for embarrassing the party and returned to the top job.

There was an air of resignation, even among some of Mr McCormack’s most ardent supporters, that his tenure as Nationals leader would more closely resemble Charles Blunt’s 332 days than Earle Page’s 18 years.

It took 230 days – give or take a few – for the rumblings about Mr McCormack’s leadership to spill out into the public arena.

The usual wannabe-kingmakers in the media including, of course, Ray Hadley and Alan Jones, have duly seized upon the discontent.

Fresh from their role in killing off Malcolm Turnbull’s prime ministership, they have decided to make the deputy prime minister their next target.

This campaign against Mr McCormack is not being driven by dissatisfaction within rural communities about his performance.

It is not Mr McCormack’s fault the Coalition is languishing in the polls, nor is it Mr McCormack’s fault that a loss in the weekend’s Wentworth byelection will plunge it into minority government.

Those agitating for change and, more specifically, lobbying for Mr Joyce’s return, need to remember the state the party was in just eight short months ago.

Mr Joyce has repeatedly demonstrated that he lacks the judgement and temperament to lead a party. He had his chance, and he blew it.

Now Mr McCormack deserves the opportunity to grow into the role and implement his vision. And be judged, in time, accordingly.

All the best for the week ahead, Ross.