Tim Sheens has almost rolled out the red carpet for Penrith’s assistant Cameron Ciraldo, declaring that the Wests Tigers want a “development” coach to replace Michael Maguire.
Key points:
- The dismissal is immediate, with Brett Kimmorley as interim coach
- Maguire has won just 36 percent of his games since taking control in 2019
- Maguire, a former first-round winner with South Sydney, could not put an end to the joint venture’s long final drought.
Maguire’s three-and-a-half-year term at the NRL club ended on Tuesday, according to Tigers bosses whose contract was terminated just hours after running a training session and choosing this week’s team. .
Brett Kimmorley will take over as interim coach ahead of Sunday’s clash with Manly, but football boss Sheens already has his eyes set on securing the next full-time coach.
Sheens did not mention names, but indicated that he wants someone expert in working with the club’s promising young series as well as guiding senior players.
This is something Ciraldo has made famous in the defense of Prime Ministers Penrith.
“Of course, (Ciraldo’s) name will be speculated,” Sheens said.
“At the end of the day, the usual names will be thrown away
“Here we are talking about a development coach who is ready to work with the young and also to give the big ones a chance.”
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Maguire’s departure came when Penrith committed to Ciraldo’s management in a contract extension to stay at the club next year.
The Panthers know Ciraldo will be in high demand, as both the Warriors and Canterbury are also looking for replacements after sacking their coaches.
But they want to keep their brains defensive until they think the right club is where to jump.
And the Tigers believe they can be an attractive choice with the talent in their portfolio.
Although Sheens was virtually resigned to the club missing the final for the eleventh consecutive season after winning just three of their first 12 games, he insisted the future was bright.
Calling for patience from suffering fans, he noted the fact that Western Suburbs had won the Harold Matthews U-17 Cup this year, while the U-19s were also finalists.
“We need someone for at least three or four years to take control of this and take the kids,” Sheens said.
“We will have ups and downs as they gain experience.
“Next year we have a couple of good guys.
“We just have to make sure there are spaces where our good kids can grow up.”
If Ciraldo is not the man to take over, former Cronulla coach John Morris would consider another option given his work with the juniors there.
Shane Flanagan and Paul Green are also looking for work, while Tonga coach Kristian Woolf and Sydney Roosters assistant Jason Ryles are other options.
Ciraldo was briefly addressed by the Tigers late last year as part of a previous review of the joint venture’s poor performance, before deciding to stay with Maguire.
Sheens was not in Australia with the club at the time, but said time had run out at Maguire after the poor start to this season and with the need to increase recruitment for 2023 and beyond.
“It’s not just about results, it’s about our future,” Sheens said.
“I couldn’t see or recommend Michael coming in three or four years.”
Maguire could be an option for the Warriors, as his ax will come just hours after Nathan Brown was sent off from the Auckland-based club.
Maguire, the 2014 Premier League-winning mentor with South Sydney, already has a connection to the New Zealand rugby league as a Kiwi coach.
AAP / ABC
Posted 12 hours, 12 hours ago, Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at 4:58 AM, updated 7 hours, 7 hours ago, Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at 9:20 AM