NRL 2021: Tevita Pangai Jr’s comeback date for Broncos confirmed, position set

With Anthony Milford in danger of missing the start of the season, the Broncos may have to turn to a player who has only just returned after being sent away ‘to do more running’.

Albert Kelly at Broncos training at Red Hill. Pic Annette Dew

Tevita Pangai Jr’s comeback has been confirmed after Brisbane coach Kevin Walters declared no-one was safe at the Broncos following Albert Kelly’s return to Red Hill.
Pangai Jr will play his first game in 196 days in Brisbane’s trial against Wynnum-Manly at Kitchener Park next Friday night
The Tongan torpedo’s last playing appearance was on August 7 last year before he became embroiled in a number of controversies which took him to the brink of being sacked.
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Pangai Jr survived the axe, instead copping a seven-game suspension and having numerous behavioural conditions imposed on him.

He is set to be one of Walters’ starting front rowers in Round 1 of the NRL season, replacing the suspended Payne Haas following his three-match ban for abusing police. Cowboys recruit John Asiata has the No. 13 jersey sewn up.

Tevita Pangai Junior will feature in Brisbane’s trial clash against Wynnum-Manly.

Due to the short turnaround between seasons, only players that featured in less than 13 NRL games last year are allowed to play in the Wynnum trial.

Pangai Jr only managed nine games last year due to injuries and suspensions, while Matt Lodge (six games) and captain Alex Glenn (eight) could also feature in the hitout.

“We are restricted with who can play because of the NRL rules and (players’ association), that’s fine and we will work within those guidelines,” Walters said.

“Some of our bigger men who didn’t play a lot of football last year like Matt Lodge and Tevita Pangai will play next week.

“(Pangai) will be in the middle somewhere, I don’t know what number he will have on his back.

“The players have been really good with everything we’ve introduced to them this year. They’re taking it all on board.

“I can see the gradual improvement from when we first came together in November to now. There’s been some really positive signs.

“They need to now play some football and we’ll get that next week against Wynnum then the following weekend in our major trial against the Cowboys (at Redcliffe).

“Trials in recent years haven’t been so important, but this year given the one (major) trial the players will only get one opportunity to get themselves fit for round one.”

Kelly was back training at Red Hill this week after being banished in early December.

The journeyman halfback turned up to the Broncos on a train-and-trial deal out of shape, with Walters declaring at the time: “He’s piled on a few kilos so we had to send him back to Souths (Logan) to do some more running.”

Albert Kelly was back training at Red Hill. Picture: Annette Dew

But with five-eighth Anthony Milford (broken hand) in danger of missing Round 1, Walters said he wanted scrumbase options to partner halfback Tom Dearden.

“He’s got great experience and with the loss of Anthony Milford, we need another half at training,” he said.

“I’ve got to say he’s been very impressive with what he’s doing. He’s quite an experienced player. He had a lovely career at the Titans and in England.

“He’s welcome back and lost a bit of weight as well, which is great. He’s in good nick.

“He had a hamstring problem so we felt it was best he went away and fixed that. He did that over the Christmas period.

“He certainly is (in the mix for round one). Because of the season the Broncos had last year, they are all fighting for positions.

Albert Kelly back at Broncos training. Picture: Annette Dew

“There’s plenty of competition in the group. At training you can see the competitiveness around the players. We’ve been enjoying that.

“We’ve got trials in the next couple of weeks which are very important for a lot of players to see who will take the field against Parramatta in round one.”

Milford is unlikely to feature in either trial game, with Broncos physiotherapist Luke Anning admitting he was racing the clock to face the Eels on March 12.

“Anthony had surgery last Thursday and is progressing really well considering it’s only a week old,” he said.

“We’re aiming for him to return to play for round one - that would be our hope. But we’ll see how he’s going because he has a lot of hurdles to overcome before we can confirm that, including clearance from the doctor.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Tevita Pangai Jr’s comeback date for Broncos confirmed, position set