DUMPED North Queensland coach Neil Henry may be on the lookout for a job but he has no desire to snatch the Wests Tigers reins away from besieged mentor Mick Potter.
Just months before he officially becomes unemployed, Henry on Tuesday made the surprise move of urging the Wests Tigers to keep Potter at the helm next year.
The axe appeared to hover over Potter after Wests Tigers lost to wooden spoon fancies Parramatta last Friday night but his future looks set to be decided by the club's current coaching review which is expected to be completed by month's end.
Henry has already been linked to a revised coaching structure at the Wests Tigers after current assistants Royce Simmons and Steve Georgallis informed the club they would move on next year.
His time at the Cowboys officially ends on November 1 after being shown the door by the North Queensland board but on Tuesday he admitted he had not yet had any official talks with an NRL club.
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However, Henry was quick to hose down any suggestion he was ready to pounce if Potter was axed, saying he empathised with the Wests Tigers coach.
"I want to go on the record and say I hope the Tigers stick with Mick Potter," he said.
"I have no desire to take Mick Potter's job.
"He has had a difficult year in difficult circumstances with a lot of injuries, and now with Benji Marshall going, too (to rugby union at season's end).
North Queensland Cowboys coach Neil Henry talks to the media about the drug investigation. Picture: Evan Morgan
"Credit to him to do what he is doing and hanging in there, and hopefully they stick by him." Henry said he would accept an NRL assistant role if it meant staying involved in rugby league.
"I am looking around," he said.
"But I have a job to do here over the next few weeks and hopefully it continues and we get into the finals."
Henry may yet extend his time with the Cowboys if they maintain their winning run and make the finals, ensuring blushes on the North Queensland board.
Still, North Queensland face the tough task of winning their last four matches to remain in the top eight mix starting with Saturday night's home clash with a Gold Coast line-up that upset the Bulldogs in Sydney on Monday night.
"It (Titans' 26-16 win) just shows how close this competition is. You just have to be on your game," Henry said.
Meanwhile, Henry expected a final decision on veteran fullback Matt Bowen's future to be made "shortly".
Bowen's manager Wayne Beavis met with Cowboys football manager Peter Parr on Tuesday but a North Queensland official ruled out an announcement being made within the next 24 hours.
"I don't know, you would have to speak to (Cowboys football manager) Peter Parr about that but I think there will be an announcement shortly," Henry said.
Bowen - who holds North Queensland's records for tries scored and games played - has been weighing up his options after battling knee problems.
Just months before he officially becomes unemployed, Henry on Tuesday made the surprise move of urging the Wests Tigers to keep Potter at the helm next year.
The axe appeared to hover over Potter after Wests Tigers lost to wooden spoon fancies Parramatta last Friday night but his future looks set to be decided by the club's current coaching review which is expected to be completed by month's end.
Henry has already been linked to a revised coaching structure at the Wests Tigers after current assistants Royce Simmons and Steve Georgallis informed the club they would move on next year.
His time at the Cowboys officially ends on November 1 after being shown the door by the North Queensland board but on Tuesday he admitted he had not yet had any official talks with an NRL club.
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However, Henry was quick to hose down any suggestion he was ready to pounce if Potter was axed, saying he empathised with the Wests Tigers coach.
"I want to go on the record and say I hope the Tigers stick with Mick Potter," he said.
"I have no desire to take Mick Potter's job.
"He has had a difficult year in difficult circumstances with a lot of injuries, and now with Benji Marshall going, too (to rugby union at season's end).
North Queensland Cowboys coach Neil Henry talks to the media about the drug investigation. Picture: Evan Morgan
"Credit to him to do what he is doing and hanging in there, and hopefully they stick by him." Henry said he would accept an NRL assistant role if it meant staying involved in rugby league.
"I am looking around," he said.
"But I have a job to do here over the next few weeks and hopefully it continues and we get into the finals."
Henry may yet extend his time with the Cowboys if they maintain their winning run and make the finals, ensuring blushes on the North Queensland board.
Still, North Queensland face the tough task of winning their last four matches to remain in the top eight mix starting with Saturday night's home clash with a Gold Coast line-up that upset the Bulldogs in Sydney on Monday night.
"It (Titans' 26-16 win) just shows how close this competition is. You just have to be on your game," Henry said.
Meanwhile, Henry expected a final decision on veteran fullback Matt Bowen's future to be made "shortly".
Bowen's manager Wayne Beavis met with Cowboys football manager Peter Parr on Tuesday but a North Queensland official ruled out an announcement being made within the next 24 hours.
"I don't know, you would have to speak to (Cowboys football manager) Peter Parr about that but I think there will be an announcement shortly," Henry said.
Bowen - who holds North Queensland's records for tries scored and games played - has been weighing up his options after battling knee problems.
