Maguire coy over Tigers' pursuit of Pangai, Isaako

Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire has remained tightlipped about the club potentially signing Broncos duo Tevita Pangai jnr and Jamayne Isaako.

After Maguire, CEO Justin Pascoe and football manager Adam Hartigan were spotted flying to Brisbane, they told NRL.com on Wednesday they would not comment on their day trip north of the border.

Following a Fox Sports report that their trip was to recruit Pangai and Isaako, Maguire was coy when asked on Thursday about the possibility of signing the duo, who are each under contract to the Broncos until the end of 2022.

"I don't comment about players that we're looking at. I'm about the now and my job is to make sure we keep growing as a club," he said.

"So who we talk to is part of the job. Everyone's doing it and we've got a big job tomorrow that I'm focused on."

Adding to the Tigers' salary cap jigsaw is former Maroons utility Moses Mbye, who has been granted permission to negotiate with other clubs for 2022 despite being under contract until the end of next season.

St George Illawarra, who have been hit hard by injuries and suspensions recently, have expressed an interest if the Tigers would release Mbye mid-season, but Maguire said he would remain at the club for the rest of 2021.

Dragons coach Anthony Griffin said on Thursday that talks with Mbye were not expected to progress unless he could gain an immediate release.

"He would have been good this week but I think they have gone cold on that," Griffin said.

Maguire also addressed the topic of Adam Doueihi being disgruntled about his recent switch to centre with Mbye taking over at five-eighth.

"We're a team, it's about the team - that's what we're doing. Adam understands that," he said.

"I've had discussions with Adam and they're kept between myself and him and he showed that by the way he played."

Doueihi excelled at centre in last week's Magic Round win over Newcastle and has again been selected there for Friday's Gosford meeting with the Warriors.

"We had a strong performance last week and we’ve got to back it up this week," Maguire said.

"I was happy with the cohesion of the boys. It was good to watch.

"How they played is something we’ve got to hang on to … It’s all about backing it up now. It’s a big game ahead."