Paul McGregor hasn't sought assurances from St George Illawarra bosses about his job despite Wayne Bennett being linked with a shock return to the Dragons.
McGregor's name has been dragged into the NRL coaching embroglio as uncertainty over Bennett's future at the Brisbane Broncos ramps up.
A Courier Mail report said Dragons management want to reinstate the man who steered them to the 2010 premiership and had held private discussions with Bennett.
McGregor is ignoring the speculation, saying he is confident of seeing out his contract through to the end of 2019.
He has not approached club management to clarify his position.
"No, not at all. I've got a year to fulfil on my contract and I'm here to do that," a relaxed McGregor told journalists on Friday.
"I'm comfortable. We're one win out of the top four. It's taken three years to build this team. It's a team I want to coach, it's a team I enjoy coaching and I've got staff that I've built over that period of time as well."
McGregor's position hasn't been aided by another Dragons late-season meltdown.
The early leaders have dropped five of their last six matches heading into Saturday's pivotal match away to the ninth-placed Wests Tigers.
It mirrors previous poor finishes under McGregor, something the 50-year-old is prepared to take flak for.
"If anyone needs to get hit with a stick, it's me and not the players," he said.
"I'm the leader of them so criticism can come high at me but I'd prefer everyone just back off the players a bit."
McGregor said speculation of a coaching merry-go-round since Anthony Griffin was sacked by Penrith two weeks ago did not surprise him.
He described it as part of the job in a professional environment and as "character building".
"When people are off contract or names come around or a team sort of dips in form, people talk about it. It's something to talk about," he said.
"It's strange isn't it? But it is what it is.
"It's nothing I can control so I'd never give energy to something I can't control."
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