Penrith hooker Api Koroisau has encouraged Cameron Ciraldo to join him at Wests Tigers, declaring he'd love it if Panthers assistant coach made the switch to Concord.
Koroisau is currently in his last season with the Panthers, having agreed to a two-year contract with the Tigers which starts in 2023.
The coach who recruited him to the club, Michael Maguire, was sacked last week with Ciraldo the early frontrunner to take over the role.
Ciraldo has yet to hold a head coaching position at NRL level and he must now weigh up leaving a Penrith side underpinned by a steady stream of upcoming talent for a Tigers outfit that hasn't made the finals in over a decade.
Koroisau will be joined by Parramatta's Isaiah Papalii next year and said Ciraldo, who met with the Tigers on Monday, would be the perfect coach for the club.
"I'd love him (at the Tigers)," Koroisau said.
"Whatever he does, he is incredible. He's our assistant coach but he does all the defence and he makes sure we do it his way.
"He changes it up too, it (training) is never the same. He's always making sure the boys are paying attention.
"I've got huge raps on him as a man, leader and a coach. He's not a straightforward coach, he will change it depending on the situation and I think it's important to do that as a coach."
Koroisau learned of Maguire's downfall while in NSW camp and was relieved he found out through official channels rather than via the media.
The 29-year-old is likely to be included in Brad Fittler's extended squad for next week's must-win second game of the series in Perth.
He could well come into consideration for a bench spot to play in tandem with Damien Cook in WA after the Blues were picked apart by Queensland's one-two punch combination of Harry Grant and Ben Hunt.
"I got to watch the game in Freddy's box and that was a pretty cool experience," Koroisau said.
"You definitely see a lot more from the box and you can tell what we are needing out on the field. It (having two hookers) has definitely been tossed out there.
"Cookie's been doing a great job by himself and if Freddy did want to add me that'd be awesome."
