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Cayless takes Wests Tigers assistant role

3 minute read

Nathan Cayless and Ben Gardner have been appointed as Michael Maguire's new assistants at Wests Tigers, after his previous right-hand men were cut.

Rabbitohs coach MICHAEL MAGUIRE.
Rabbitohs coach MICHAEL MAGUIRE. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Nathan Cayless will join the Wests Tigers as an assistant coach as part of the overhaul of Michael Maguire's football department.

Cayless was on Friday confirmed as one of Maguire's assistants for 2022, along with the club's former reserve grade coach Ben Gardiner.

The former Kiwis and Parramatta captain joins the Tigers from the Sydney Roosters, after previous working in lower grades at both the Eels and the Warriors.

Gardiner led Western Suburbs' NSW Cup side last year, coming second before COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the competition in June.

The appointments come after Wests Tigers cut ties with both Wayne Collins and Shane Millard, following a football department review led by Adam Hartigan and Justin Pascoe.

While head coach Maguire survived that review, Hartigan was later squeezed out of his role as head of football following the return of veteran mentor Tim Sheens as football director.

"I've spent time with Ben and Nathan at international level and know they will grow our players while adding a lot to our staff and club," Maguire said.

"I'm looking forward to working with them to build our squad and getting stuck into the pre-season together."

Meanwhile the club's former recruitment manager Warren McDonnell is also set to return, in a role that will again see him work under Sheens.

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