After turning down the Wests Tigers, Cameron Ciraldo is reportedly closing in on a one-year extension with the Penrith Panthers, while he waits for the right opportunity to come up.

That’s according to The Daily Telegraph’s Buzz Rothfield, who reported Ciraldo will re-assess his options next year, with a view to taking a better job than the one on offer at the Tigers.

“Cameron Ciraldo picking up the telephone on Saturday evening, rang the boss of the Wests Tigers thanked them for their offer, very courteous about it, very professional but it was a big offer, it was five years,” Rothfield told SKY Racing’s Big Sports Breakfast.

“I’ve said on this show many times before he’s only in his mid-thirties, he’s got a young family, he wasn’t ready for the stress of a job that confronts many coaches at the Wests Tigers.”

While Ciraldo may not be ready for a head coaching role for the time being, Rothfield revealed a list of clubs the former Italian international could potentially join following his stint at Penrith.

“My mail is that he’ll stay at the Penrith Panthers, he’ll extend for one more year and then wait and see what opportunities there might be something a bit brighter, there could be Melbourne Storm available,” Rothfield revealed.

“A job like that Craig Bellamy is likely to have his last year next season, St George Illawarra could be, you just don’t know, the Newcastle Knights could be available.

“These clubs are in a better position than the Wests Tigers moving forward so where do the West Tigers go now.”

Now that Ciraldo is out of the question for the role of Tigers head coach, Rothfield disclosed a group of names that could be in contention.

“There’s two names I mentioned in the papers today, one is John Morris the assistant coach at the Cronulla Sharks, played 72 games at the Wests Tigers he’s got their DNA, 300 game player, made the top eight at Cronulla two years in a row,” Rothfield said

“Or there’s Shane Flanagan, I think at some stage we’ve got to judge Shane Flanagan on his coaching ability rather than the mistakes he’s made which has been harshly punished for.

“I’m sure those two will be among three or four people they do interview for the job, I think there’s a little bit of urgency about it because decisions have to be made about Luke Brooks and other players at the Wests Tigers.

“They’ve got to be planning right now for next year and the following year, the year after that, they’ve got to move quickly, but most importantly they’ve got to make the right decision.”