Michael Maguire has been linked to the Wests Tigers

MICHAEL Maguire appears the most likely to take over as Wests Tigers coach if Ivan Cleary departs for Penrith in 2019.That’s the belief of Fox Sports chief NRL reporter James Hooper who said it was unlikely the Tigers would be able to lure master coach Wayne Bennett to the club for next season.Cleary has reportedly agreed to return to the Panthers in 2021, at the conclusion of his Tigers deal, on a three-year
contract.It was also recently reported by NRL.com that “the Tigers are willing to release Cleary in the coming days, with club officials of the view his position is almost untenable.”Bennett had been linked to the Tigers, but the Broncos and Bennett have stated he’ll be remaining at the club until the end of his contract in 2019.“I think the bloke who is coaching New Zealand, Michael Maguire — he knocked back the Manly Sea Eagles gig — he is a very strong chance of coaching the Wests Tigers,” Hooper told The Rush Hour with MG on Triple M.