Wests Tigers are considering offering Cameron Ciraldo an unprecedented five year deal to entice the Panthers assistant to the club.
The Tigers have officially begun the search for Michael Maguire’s replacement but hope they will not have to look further than Ciraldo.
He has long been earmarked for the position with Tigers officials working in the background last season to bring him to the club.
Now they believe they are a genuine chance and in doing so could be prepared to offer him a five-year contract to help lift the Tigers from struggling club into a premiership force.
A contract length that long is almost unprecedented for a rookie coach. Craig Fitzgibbon inked a three-year contract with the Sharks last season despite being the most wanted coach-in-waiting.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson signed a five-year contract earlier this year but already has three titles to his name. Anthony Seibold was given a five-year contract with the Broncos after just one year at South Sydney.
Loading embed...
Ciraldo has reached out to some in the game to gauge their thoughts on him taking up the Tigers position in a sign he is seriously considering the role. The Bulldogs would also like to land him but could shift their attention to Maguire now he is a free man.
Tigers head of football Tim Sheens said this week they were on the lookout for a development coach – leaving Ciraldo as the firm favourite.
Sheens also hit back at suggestions the club could lose players as a result of Maguire’s departure. Earlier in the week, Canterbury head of football Phil Gould accused the Tigers of failing to read the room and claimed as many as six players could head for the exit door if Maguire was sacked.
The Tigers privately believe it was Gould’s way of tilting the fight for Ciraldo in Canterbury’s favour given the Bulldogs are also in the market for the Panthers assistant.
Sheens has started initial contract talks with the likes of Jackson Hastings and Adam Doueihi, two players who are believed to be Maguire fans.
In Doueihi’s case, the club is confident that he will commit his long-term future to the Tigers. Hastings may be a different story given his close relationship with Maguire, although Sheens insists no players have requested releases.
Nor does he expect any to do so.
“There has been nothing from the agent or the players,” Sheens said.
“From my point of view, we’re business as usual. They’re on contract next year. We have already approached their agent. We know what they are looking at roughly. “
