Wests Tigers co-captain James Tamou has called for Cameron Ciraldo to join Concord as the team’s new head coach.
Tamou worked with Ciraldo at Penrith, where the latter is still Ivan Cleary’s assistant and was a key factor in the Panthers’ premiership win last year.
He is considered the best head coach in waiting, but so far hasn’t taken up a gig despite several becoming available.
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The Tigers are the latest club seeking a head coach, after sacking Michael Maguire earlier this week.
The Bulldogs and Warriors have also parted ways with their coaches and are yet to find replacements.
Ciraldo will be hot property, but Tamou is desperately hoping the pair can reunite.
“That would be unreal for Ciro,” Tamou said.
“I love the Tigers and I love Ciro, and for that to come together, it would be the perfect storm.
“He will definitely get a head coaching role. He’s built that (at Penrith), coming through the junior system.
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“I’d love for him to come to the Tigers, and I guess (Tigers football boss Tim Sheens) and the team are doing everything they can.”
While the Maguire sacking didn’t come as a shock to the general public, it was sudden and took the playing group largely by surprise.
The moment Maguire learned of Tigers sacking
Tamou revealed Maguire didn’t get the chance to break the news to his players personally. He ran training on Tuesday morning, was called into a meeting, and left in a rush.
Now, the Tigers must regroup and play the second half of the NRL season under interim coach Brett Kimmorley.
“As a leader and as a co-captain you’ve obviously got to be a strong pillar for the team. The team comes first in this situation,” Tamou said.
“I rang Madge (Maguire) yesterday and we had a chat… what’s happened has happened, and it’s unfortunate. We’ve got to put all that energy into focusing on the weekend.
“When I spoke to Madge I said, ‘Mate we don’t have to look far to blame anyone, as players we’ve just got to look in the mirror’.
“We’ve got to move forward for the sake of the team.
“Sometimes in these situations coaches lose the dressing shed – that was not the case here. He will be around rugby league coaching again, wherever it may be. He’s too good not to.”
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