Brad Arthur firms as new coach of Cowboys as Neil Henry confirms move to Gold Coast Titans

MANLY assistant coach Brad Arthur has firmed for the Cowboys post as Neil Henry confirms his move to Gold Coast Titans.

Henry will head south and join the Titans in 2014.

MANLY assistant coach Brad Arthur has firmed for the Cowboys post as Wayne Bennett lashed out at speculation he was set to replace Neil Henry in Townsville.

The development comes as departed Cowboys coach Neil Henry was this announced as the Titans assistant coach for next season, as revealed by News Corporation last month.

Arthur is expected to be formally unveiled as North Queensland's coach in the coming days, ousting rival candidates Paul Green, Kevin Walters, Rick Stone and Kristian Woolf for the post.

Stone, who will coach Fiji at the World Cup, was informed last week he is out of the race, while it is understood Roosters under-20s coach Green has also been notified by Cowboys hierarchy.

Should Arthur secure the Cowboys job, it would be a career coup for the former Storm assistant, who succeeded Steve Kearney as Parramatta's caretaker coach for six weeks in 2012.

The one certainty is Bennett will not be at North Queensland next season, with the master coach on Monday reiterating his desire to coach the Knights in 2014.

"It started with the media. You just keeping going on about it. You absolutely fascinate me," he said.

"I've said what I've said today, and I don't really want to keep going on about it until you raise its head again somewhere in six months’ time when some other club hasn't got a coach.

"It's fascinated me the rubbish that went on about it. Here I am justifying why I'm staying here. I'm here. Do you understand that? ... Don't you ever read your own articles or read what's said?

"I was never leaving the Knights. I never applied for a job up there (Cowboys), I never went for an interview for a job up there."

Meanwhile, Henry will officially join the Titans next season, working alongside head coach John Cartwright and his assistants Steve Murphy and Trevor Gillmeister.

Cartwright had urged Titans hierarchy to beef-up his coaching unit and that request has been fulfilled with the addition of Henry, who will bring tactical nous to the Gold Coast.

"Neil has plenty of experience coaching in the NRL so to have someone of his calibre joining the club will add enormously to our coaching group," said Cartwright.

"I’m sure the players are going to be the ones that benefit, as an extra member of the coaching staff will ensure that they receive more one-on-one time with the coaches.

"We have a great coaching group here already and I’m sure Neil’s skill set will bring a new element to the table."
Former Queensland Origin assistant Henry said he is keen to help steer the Titans to the finals in 2014.

"I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with Titans and I’m really looking forward to it," said Henry.

"The Titans are a relatively new club with a strong and exciting playing roster moving forward so I’m looking forward to contributing in a coaching capacity.

"The club has made a commitment to strengthening their coaching staff and that gives me the opportunity to work a bit more hands on with the players than you do as a head coach so I’m excited about that."