NRL: Anderson's future down to Eels

Stephen Kearney. Photo / Daily Post

Parramatta coach Daniel Anderson admits his future with the Eels is out of his hands following rumours the club had been courting Kiwis coach and Melbourne assistant Stephen Kearney.

Anderson has endured an up an down year in charge of the mercurial Eels, who kept alive their NRL finals hopes with a win over Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

Speculation had deepened following television reports the club were sounding out another coach should last year's grand finalists fail to make the top eight in 2010.

Asked if he'd heard the conjecture a stern-faced Anderson said: "no" before offering a blunt "yes" to whether it was the first he'd heard of it.

"It's nothing I can control, it's speculation, it's for you [media] to do," he said.

"I'm sure there are some people in this room that know more than me about that, so be it."

Was he frustrated by such rumours?

"I want to do the job, I enjoy doing the job and I'm good enough to do the job.

"I am contracted to do the job but I report to a CEO and a board," he said.

"They are the people who make the decisions, not me."

Parramatta chief executive Paul Osborne is believed to have met Kearney last week.

Anderson was evasive about whether jaded halfback Daniel Mortimer, rested from this clash with Kris Keating stepping into the role, would be recalled for their next match with the Wests Tigers at home.

Mortimer was given the night off as Anderson was concerned he was running on empty.

Keating was impressive, displaying explosive speed to slice between Corey Norman and Israel Folau before setting up a try for centre Joel Reddy early in the second half.

- AAP