Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire already scrambling to fix his roster for 2019

Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire is already working overtime to ensure the 2019 season does not involve a cut to his roster, including a premature farewell for club favourite Robbie Farah.

Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe and new coach Michael Maguire speak during a press conference at Concord Oval, Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

• MATE: Gallen must push Flanagan pain aside

• DISASTER: What the NRL will do if Cronulla collapse

New Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire is already working overtime to ensure the 2019 season does not involve a cut to his roster, including a premature farewell for club favourite Robbie Farah.

Despite being only weeks into his new tenure with the joint-venture club, Maguire has already been forced to discuss the possibility of altering his 30-man roster if, as proposed by the NRL, an additional $639,000 is stripped from next year’s salary cap.

As it stands, the Tigers have 14 players off contract in 2019, among them ageing club champions Farah and Benji Marshall.

Other players looking to renew include Chris Lawrence, Robbie Rochow, Corey Thompson, Michael Chee Kam and Josh Aloiai.

Maguire is working overtime to fix the club’s roster. Picture by Brett Costello.

Privately, the club has already discussed the possibility of making a cut to remain cap compliant next year.

However in the past 48 hours, Maguire and his football department having been crunching numbers to ensure there are no losses from a squad that also boasts the likes of Luke Brooks, Josh Reynolds, Moses Mbye and Roosters premiership forward Ryan Matterson.

Already, Maguire has a strong relationship with both Farah and Marshall.

Apart from signing the Tigers No. 9 when he was Rabbitohs coach, Maguire also recently invited Marshall to tour with his New Zealand Test side.

The veteran No. 6 declined however, insisting he wanted to ensure his body was right for the impending NRL season.

Right now, the Tigers still have two of 30 roster spots to fill.

One of those was expected to be Zane Musgrove, however the former South Sydney forward is yet to have his contract activated given he was charged with indecent assault earlier this month and remains before the courts.

Pascoe is facing a year out of the game. Picture by Brett Costello.

Up until Wednesday, it was suggested the Tigers were still $700,000 under the cap and chasing a quality outside back.

The most obvious choice would have been Bunnies winger Robert Jennings, who only last week trained with Brad Fittler’s Emerging Blues squad despite still being uncontracted for next year.

Should the NRL sanctions stand however, the club will struggle to fill its roster as required by the NRL while remaining cap compliant.

Working in the Tigers favour, however, is the fact the club has until June 30 to fill all of its squad spots.

Every Test, ODI & T20I live, ad-break free during play and in 4K. Only on Foxtel. SIGN UP TODAY!

Originally published as Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire already scrambling to fix his roster for 2019