Moses Mbye says conjecture over Anthony Griffin's job will not impact any decisions on his own future with the utility one of 10 St George Illawarra players off contract.
Mbye is in a unique position after close to 200 games in the NRL, off contract for the first time in his 10-season career after years of extending well in advance.
First signed on a big-money deal at Canterbury in 2014 before his debut, Mbye was given another extension in 2016 before he left for the Wests Tigers midway through his deal.
His Tigers stint also ended early in 2021, when he sacrificed part of his big-money contract to head to the Dragons.
"I don't ever remember being off contract," Mbye told AAP.
"I don't even know what to say about it, because it's never happened to me before. What am I supposed to say? I'll leave it to my manager.
"I haven't even thought about it, to be honest. It might have played on my mind if I was a bit younger.
"But for me, I am just focused on now. Next year sorts next year out. If you're in good shape playing best footy, then there will be an opportunity."
The Dragons' roster situation comes with Griffin's future likely to be decided within the next month.
Captain Ben Hunt remains vocal in his support of the coach, but Griffin can ill afford losses in the next month with games against Canberra on Sunday followed by the Sydney Roosters, Canterbury and Wests Tigers.
If Griffin was to be moved on, any new coach would have some room to move, given up to a third of the Dragons' roster have contracts expiring this year.
Mbye can see why the uncertainty could be a concern for some off-contract players, but said it wouldn't stop him from making a decision on his future.
"For me, no it doesn't. For a lot of people I can understand why," Mbye said.
"If you're a young guy or if you're a person trying to specialise in a certain role, or a coach that is going to be more specific for you.
"But for me, the coaching speculation doesn't worry me. I think there are some guys it would."
Griffin's rival on Sunday, Ricky Stuart, said he had some sympathy for the Dragons' coach and his plight.
"I've got sympathy for all coaches that go through a difficult period and it's important to have good people around you," Stuart said.
"Coaches are in a very volatile position, I don't like seeing coaches go through this because unless you've coached, you don't understand the pressure.
"He's a big boy, he'd be handling it.
"But it's always really important to have stability at management level and good solid characters around you that you can rely upon."
