The Daily Telegrpah’s David Riccio believes the Wests Tigers need to “throw a bucket load of cash” at Penrith Panthers assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo to attract better players.
Despite starting the 2022 season at 0-3, Tigers head coach Michael Maguire insists that he has the support of the players and head of football Tim Sheens.
Riccio says that the issue with the Tigers is not Maguire’s coaching but the roster and the inability to attract quality players.
“I don’t believe sacking Michael Maguire tomorrow, next week or the week after actually solves the problem for the Tigers,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“The problem I say with the Tigers is their roster and their ability to recruit.
“Players don’t sign to a club to play under a particular chairman or a CEO.
“They want to play under a particular coach.
“The Tigers have to work out who that coach is that can attract players to the club.
“There’s only one and that’s Cameron Ciraldo.”
Ciraldo has been the assistant coach at Penrith since the end of the 2016 season and has been a large part in making the Panthers’ defence one of the best in the competition.
Ciraldo reportedly has a strong relation with many key players at Penrith and Riccio believes that if he were to become Tigers coach, a few players may decide to follow him.
“He’s the number one defensive coach in the game,” Riccio continued.
“With Cameron Ciraldo, I’d throw a bucket load of cash at him.
“He would bring four to five Panthers players with him.
“That’s how you turn the (Tigers) roster around.
“The ability to lure a player is key to the turnover of the Tigers roster.”
The Tigers will be desperate to ease the pressure of Maguire by registering their first win of the season against the Gold Coast Titans on March 31.