Jock Madden doesn't know if he has a future at the Wests Tigers despite being tasked with being the team's halfback for the rest of the NRL season.
The 22-year-old has been a forgotten man in the constant shuffling of the Tigers spine this season, but now has a chance to partner Adam Doueihi for the remaining five rounds.
Luke Brooks is out with a calf issue and Jackson Hastings sustained a broken ankle as a result of a hip drop tackle in Saturday's 32-18 win over Brisbane.
Incoming head coach Tim Sheens is on record as saying Brooks is the Tigers' preferred No. 7 next year and that leaves Madden, who was linked with a move to Penrith over the weekend, needing to put himself in the shop window.
"I'm off contract at the moment still," Madden said on Tuesday.
"(Sorting my future) is my manager's role and I just purely focus on the week in week out and let the off-field stuff take care of itself.
"You can think of it like (an audition) but I'm purely focused on a week by week thing and not trying to get ahead of myself."
Madden said Brooks staying at the Tigers wouldn't impact his thinking as he prepares to come up against his previous club, Newcastle, on Sunday.
The Knights - like the Tigers - have had a tendency to let good ones slip through their grasp with Madden alongside the likes of Hudson Young, Tom Starling and Jacob Kiraz who have impressed since leaving Newcastle.
"I came up through the juniors there and have a few mates playing so we can hopefully get one on top of them," said Madden, a former Australian Schoolboy international.
"I have no idea why (Newcastle lose so many).
"I thought signing at the Tigers would be good to learn off Benji (Marshall), Brooks, Robbie Farah and Josh Reynolds and saw coming here as an opportunity to grow my game."
