St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett yesterday revealed he is happy in Wollongong and ruled out a move back to Queensland - at least for now.
Bennett committed to seeing out his contract with the Dragons and said he had "no idea" when he would make a decision on his future beyond the end of next year, when his contract expires.
The veteran coach has been linked to a return to Brisbane and also with the North Queensland Cowboys, the club he almost signed with before joining St George Illawarra two years ago.
Full coverage of the Dragons But with the Dragons closing in on their first title as a joint venture club, Bennett said he was content to remain in the Illawarra.
"Yeah, there's no problems here, I'm enjoying my time," Bennett told the Mercury yesterday.
"I've got no idea [when a decision on his future will be made] at the moment actually.
"There's no reason why I won't be here and there's no reason why I might. I'll just see where it all kind of goes from here.
"I'm coaching the Dragons next year and that's where I'm staying right now."
Broncos coach Ivan Henjak is under pressure after the club missed the finals for the first time since 1991, while Cowboys counterpart Neil Henry is also facing scrutiny after their woeful season.
Bennett has been discussed as a potential candidate for both jobs and his family has remained in Queensland after he signed with the Dragons.
Having won successive minor premierships with the Dragons, Bennett admitted the team was perfectly placed to deliver the Illawarra its first ever premiership.
Before the joint venture, the Steelers made a preliminary final in 1992, before losing to St George.
The Dragons then went on to lose to Bennett's Broncos in the grand final that year, his first top-grade premiership.
Having gone on to win six with Brisbane, Bennett said he knew what a maiden title would mean to the region.
"It means a lot to everybody," the coach said.
"It's why you work so hard to try and get them and repay everyone that has great belief and stays loyal to you through all the bad times. It would be nice for everybody, but no-one else can do it but us and those players out there.
"We're in a great position, hopefully we get a bit of luck and it falls for us."
Bennett said the Dragons did not need to find something special during the month-long finals campaign.
He called on his players simply to maintain momentum in their bid for an elusive Dragons premiership.
"They just need to do not just what they've done over the last month, but over the past two years," he said.
"They've done it pretty well for most of the time.
"They get another opportunity - we failed last year and didn't get it right.
"If they play like they played most weeks, they won't be far off the money."
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