The Canterbury Bulldogs have their man with Cameron Ciraldo inking a five-year deal to become the club’s head coach from 2023.
The Penrith assistant will join the club following the 2022 season, and it’s believed his deal is worth near $800,000 per season.
While the 37-year-old is highly regarded, the length of his contract has been questioned given that he’s never been a full-time coach at NRL level.
Panthers board member Greg Alexander is one figure who spent a lot of time with Ciraldo and he discussed his pending move with Andrew Voss on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
Alexander: “He’s secured himself a pretty good deal.”
Voss: “Five years for all intents and purposes, a rookie coach.
“I know he’s had a little bit of caretaker coach experience there when Anthony Griffin was let go.
“But five years? As a rookie coach. Yes or no?”
Alexander: “Any five-year deal, there’s an element of a gamble in it, even with a player.
“But five years for an untried coach? I guess so.
“80 per cent of me thinks Cameron Ciraldo will be a success and it doesn’t matter which club he’s at.
“But, there’s always an element of risk with a long-term deal.”
Voss: “They’re saying they’ve got their man in Cameron Ciraldo.
“We’re obviously talking pretty decent coin, probably $700-800k.
“It is a multi-million-dollar deal for Cameron Ciraldo.”
Alexander: “I don’t think anyone could say, ‘We are 100 per cent sure this is going to be a success’.
“You can’t say that about any coaching position, you hope it works … but there’s always an element of unknown.”
Voss: “What if they haven’t played finals in a couple of years? I think five years is too much.
“Five years for a rookie coach? Trying to think of a coach you’d sign for five years, I think you’ve got to have the runs on the board.
“(Craig) Bellamy, (Trent) Robinson, (Ivan) Cleary, I don’t think there’s too many more.
“I’m not signing a rookie coach for five years.
“But, I wish Cameron Ciraldo all the very best.”
Ciraldo began his assistant coaching journey with Penrith in 2017 following a playing career with the Sharks, Knights and Panthers.