Brad Arthur insists he does not feel under the gun at Parramatta, rejecting any suggestion he could benefit from a Wayne Bennett-type coaching director.
Arthur's long-term job security landed back in the headlines this week, after Dolphins coach Bennett - whose contract ends this year - was questioned about his interest in the Eels job.
Parramatta's most-capped coach, Arthur's future has regularly been the subject of conjecture throughout his 11-year tenure at the Eels.
The 49-year-old briefly quietened the chatter by reaching the 2022 grand final, before the Eels fell out of the top eight last season.
They have so far endured an inconsistent start to this year, falling to a 2-3 record after back-to-back losses without injured halfback Mitch Moses.
But Arthur remains adamant that if there was pressure on him he would know about it from club bosses.
"I’ve been here 11 years, and every year there’s some (external) talk of it," Arthur said ahead of Saturday's clash with North Queensland.
"I get it, it’s part of the job. We need to win.
"It's round six, and what puts me on my toes is I want to win.
"I’m sure if there was something I needed to be concerned about I’d be the first person to find out.
"Knowing how the club operates, they know my approach is to be up front - and they’re the same."
In February, the Eels quashed suggestions they were interested in bringing in Bennett as a coaching director.
The off-contract coach downplayed any links to Parramatta this week, but it's thought the romance of trying to emulate his great hero Jack Gibson at the Eels could be a lure.
As far as Arthur is concerned, there is no need for him to work under a coaching director.
"No (I would not benefit from that)," he said when asked about the links.
"That’s not me being arrogant, but I’ve been here for 11 years. I don’t need anyone holding my hand with how to coach.
"Either the club thinks I can coach, or they don’t. Whether I coach here or wherever, (working under a coaching director) wouldn’t suit me."
Arthur said the decision to bring Daejarn Asi back into the halves for Saturday's Cowboys clash was brought about by a need for maturity and communication at No.6.
Asi's selection has left Blaize Talagi in reserve grade, after Arthur felt the teenager had handled the physicality well in two games at five-eighth but needed improvement in detail.
"It’s really important with halves that they communicate well," the coach said.
"That’s always the hardest thing for young halves when they come into a team to have the gumption to tell forwards that have played 200 games what to do."
