Forget having 10 weeks to save his job at Penrith, Matthew Elliott wants another 10 years in the Panthers' hot seat.

He believes he is on the verge of creating a NRL championship-winning dynasty at CUA Stadium.

The 44-year-old coach has been at the Panthers for two seasons during which time they've won 18 of 48 games, finishing last in 2007 and 12th in 2008.

After they missed out on the finals last year many were speculating Elliott could be sacked before seeing out the final year of his three-year deal.

But if Elliott is worried about his employment prospects it's certainly not showing.

"I feel pretty secure about my capacities as a coach, I certainly wouldn't be doing the job if I didn't and I feel very confident about the performance of the team that I've got at the moment," Elliott said.

"I know that I can guarantee an effort level from them so I don't care what people have speculated about my future, I feel very relaxed about it.

"My personal goal is to be at this club for another 10 years because I really think now with the young players that we've got here, I know this club will be competing for grand finals.

"We've got to keep them together, that's going to be the big challenge for us. So all the other stuff - I understand where it comes from, I'm not even disappointed by it - it just doesn't bother me."

What does bother Elliott is the way his youngsters faded so badly at the end of 2008, missing out on the finals after having been in or around the eight for most of the season.

Gone from the club is the experience of premiership players Tony Puletua (St Helens), Luke Rooney (French rugby union), Luke Priddis (Dragons) and Rhys Wesser (Rabbitohs), leaving just two players - Luke Lewis and Trent Waterhouse - from the team which beat the Roosters in 2003 grand final.

The only gains have been Gavin Cooper from the Titans and Shane Elford from English Super League team Huddersfield.

It means plenty will be asked of experienced forward duo Petero Civoniceva and Frank Pritchard and it makes 2009 as big a season for the Panthers' up-and-comers as it is for Elliott.

Of those Panther cubs, promising back Jarrod Sammut experienced a severe-bout of second season syndrome in 2008.

But Elliott believes Sammut and the remainder of the youngsters have given themselves the best possible chance to hit the ground running in 2009.

"My aims and hopes are to get the team playing the type of footy that they're capable of playing," he said.

"For us to do that as a coaching staff we really need to put a lot of time into our individuals.

"At the moment we've got a team environment where it's highly productive. Guys aren't feeling inhibited, guys are really working hard on their preparation. We've got to make sure that regardless of results that environment remains where it is at the moment.

One of the Panthers youngsters who does appear ready to fulfill his potential is Michael Jennings, with Elliott feeling the time is right for the 20-year-old to make the step up to representative footy.

"There's a (NSW Origin) centre spot up for grabs and what Michael Jennings has taught me from the time he came into the team as an 18-year-old is he rises to the standard," Elliott said.

"I think Luke Lewis certainly with his ability to play from wing through the halves into the backrow, makes a fantastic utility and he's weighing in at 102kgs at the moment so he's not tiny either, he has speed."

And Elliott sees no problem with Lewis' versatility, saying the 25-year-old will play a key role in his team.

"I thought he played particularly well in the halves last year ... he probably took on too much responsibility," Elliott said.

"So we'll be looking for him to play a very similar role regardless of where he plays. He'll play 6 or 13."

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