Anthony Watmough won't be blowing up if NSW selectors opt for a younger – and more in-form – forward for this year's State of Origin campaign.
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"It's totally up to them," Watmough said.
"People are entitled to their opinion. You know what, we might be getting old but we've done some amazing things together over the years.
"If they look in a new direction, they look in a new direction. Who am I to question what they want to do? If that's their plan, if they want to go with youth, then good on them.
"Like I said, I'm worried about getting things right here, us winning some games and scoring some more points."
There has been much talk about the need for regeneration of an Australian team which, until recently, Watmough was a long-serving member of, due to its ageing roster.
While Blues selectors are having similar conversations, it has been Watmough's form rather than his age that has put his Origin place in jeopardy.
Watmough defected from Manly to arch rivals Parramatta amid much fanfare in the preseason, but as yet hasn't made the expected impact.
While he was a member of the victorious Blues squad last year, and coach Laurie Daley has spoken of his desire to stay as loyal as practicable, the 32-year-old is struggling to ward off challenges from the next generation of back rowers.
"I will wait if and when that phone call [from Daley] comes," Watmough said.
"I won't look too far ahead or read into it too much. There's a few weeks to go before things start to get really serious there.
"At the end of the day I want to start training and playing well for Parra … To tell you the truth, [there is the representative] that part of the season but at the moment we're just worried about us here. I know that may be hard to cop and say that it is there but we're just worried about here."
Statistics provided by Champion Data confirm Watmough is down in several key categories since shifting west.
He is averaging 13 possessions (down from 18.4 last season), running for less metres (averaging 79.8 metres this season, 119.6 last year) and missing more tackles (3.6 this year, 1.5 last year).
He will have a chance to improve those on Sunday against a Melbourne side featuring Queensland stalwarts Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk.
Watmough was bombarded with questions about his personal form at an Eels training session at their Old Saleyards complex, deflecting the majority with appraisals of his new club's performance in 2015.
But the Sea Eagles life member gave some insights into the pressures of being a marquee signing at a club starved of success.
"It's always hard moving to a new club," he said.
"It's not where I probably wanted to be but at the end of the day I'm working in a new environment and it's going to take time …
"People are entitled to their opinion, they can write whatever they want. I don't have to read it. People can say what they want or do whatever. I'm here, I'm doing a job, Brad [coach Brad Arthur] is happy with how things are going.
"Some things could be better but that's just us being critical of our own performances."
Pressed on the biggest challenge in changing from the perennial finalists, he said: "Different players, how different people work.
"You can train as much as you want but until you get out there and play some games together and learn to gel it's different, it's always going to be hard ... [if we had won close games] then you'd be going 'you're a genius, you moved to a club and now you are coming second or third'."
