Tevita Pangai Jr open to an NRL return at the Broncos, reveals rugby union poaching raid

Tevita Pangai Jr breaks his silence to reveal he is open to a Broncos comeback, his hatred for Sydney, how much he took to leave the Bulldogs and a shock approach from the Wallabies.

Tevita Pangai Jr has left the door ajar for a return to the NRL and the Broncos, revealing he rejected a secret approach from former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones to test himself in professional boxing.

In his most revealing interview since his bombshell decision to quit the Bulldogs, Pangai Jr has broken his silence amid reports the boxing convert is eyeing an NRL comeback in Broncos colours this season.

Pangai Jr lifted the lid on his relationship with Broncos coach Kevin Walters, the key reasons behind his exit from the Bulldogs and spoke of his love for the Brisbane club he never wanted to leave.

The controversial NSW Origin enforcer also hit back at suggestions he is money hungry, blasting claims Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould authorised a $250,000 payout to leave Belmore and take up boxing.

“I have no regrets,” said Pangai Jr, who celebrates his 28th birthday on Sunday.

“I never ripped off anyone at the Dogs. I’m not driven by money. I’m just happy to be back in Brisbane with my life settled again.”

THE BRONCOS

Pangai Jr sent the rumour mill into overdrive when he was spotted as a spectator at Broncos training a fortnight ago.

This masthead can reveal Pangai Jr has held preliminary talks with Broncos bosses with a view to returning to the club after June on a short-term, four-month deal.

The Broncos have yet to table a formal offer. Pangai Jr says he has spoken with Walters and while he denied specifically discussing a Broncos comeback, he is open to mixing boxing with football if Brisbane can afford him under the salary cap.

Tevita Pangai Jr watches pre-season Broncos training at Red Hill a fortnight ago.

“I’m committed to boxing but I haven’t ruled out playing NRL again,” he said.

“I would have to have a good talk with my wife and my brother, who manages me.

“I blame my boxing trainer for this (Broncos speculation).

“His daughter wanted to meet Reece Walsh and Payne Haas (Broncos stars), so I said, ‘I will take you training and meet a few of the lads’.

“That’s why all these rumours started happening about me coming back to the Broncos, but it’s not the first time I have gone to watch Broncos training.

“Right now, I am focused on boxing, but I think I can still definitely mix it in the NRL. I’m only 28 and I’m just hitting my peak as a front-rower.

“Ability wise, I can still do something in the NRL, but I’m taking boxing seriously and respecting the sport.”

KEVIN WALTERS

Walters was part of the Broncos hierarchy that offloaded Pangai Jr to Penrith in 2021 following a turbulent five-year stint that saw the prop almost sacked by the club for a series of Covid-rule breaches.

But Pangai Jr says he has no bad blood with Walters and is heavy-hearted about his Broncos axing.

A Red Hill resurrection would give the Tongan torpedo a chance to right some wrongs.

“Leaving the Broncos was the worst period of my life,” he said.

Tevita Pangai Jr talking with coach Kevin Walters during his first stint at the Broncos.

“I was literally in tears when I had to leave, that’s how much I loved the Broncos.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for the Broncos and even when I was at the Bulldogs, I loved tuning into Broncos games.

“I’m very close with Payne Haas and Patty (Carrigan), so I will never forget the friendships I made at the Broncos.

“I get on great with Kev. I understood at the time when they let me go it was all business. We had a lot of money tied up in our forward pack and I never took it personally.

“I was pretty angry I had to leave Brisbane because I could see the potential that was coming. I knew Adam Reynolds would make a huge difference to the team, but there’s no issue with Kevvie at all.

“Yes, I’ve spoken to ‘Kevvie’ at Broncos training. I have always stayed in touch with Kevvie, even during my time in Sydney, he would message me after I played a good game.

“We haven’t had too many serious discussions, but I haven’t closed the door on the NRL.”

THE WALLABIES

Within days of quitting the Bulldogs, Pangai Jnr received a phone call. A meeting was arranged with then Wallabies coach Eddie Jones to discuss emulating Roosters young gun Joseph Suaalii by defecting to rugby union ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

“It’s true I spoke to Eddie Jones,” Pangai Jr said.

“Simon Poidevin (Wallabies legend) is a friend of mine, he helped me get a scholarship to Newington College when I was 12 years old and he helped set up a chat with Eddie.

Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones was keen to sign Pangai Jr.

“We had been trying to set up the meeting for a while, but we finally spoke just a few days after I announced my retirement from the NRL.

“Eddie was great. I really enjoyed talking to him.

“He was pretty keen to sign me, he told me to watch some footage of games and I mentioned to him that I had played No.8 and liked watching Toutai Kefu and Willie Ofahengaue (former Wallabies).

“I definitely thought about going to rugby. There’s the Lions tour and the World Cup coming up. I played rugby union as a kid, so I know the game, but I had told the Bulldogs I wanted to test myself in boxing and I wanted to stick to my word.”

DOG GONE

Pangai Jr insists he enjoyed working with Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo and football boss ‘Gus’ Gould, but reveals there were other factors beyond boxing that convinced him to hit the Belmore exits.

“To be honest, I just hated Sydney. I didn’t enjoy the city,” he said. “There’s a reason my parents moved out of Sydney when I was 12. The place sucks. I will never move back.

Pangai Jr never settled in Sydney in his two seasons at the Bulldogs.

“My big thing was being in Brisbane. People don’t understand how much I love being back home with my wife’s family and being able to work with my (boxing) trainer in Brisbane.

“There’s no issue with Cameron. He knows what we spoke about.

“I had some goals I wrote down and I told them if I didn’t meet them, I would quit the NRL and take up boxing.

“I said to ‘Ciro’ if we didn’t make the top eight, that I would leave the club and I’d go without a payout.

“We had a great relationship. Cameron didn’t want to hold me to those words, but I felt I dropped below my standard at the Dogs and I wasn’t happy with myself.”

THE PAYOUT

Pangai Jr set the record straight on suggestions Gould signed off on a $250,000 payout. He says he ostensibly forfeited $750,000 by going to boxing.

“The truth is there was no payout,” he said.

“While most of my discussions were with the coach, I got on with ‘Gus’ (Gould).

“When he found out about my decision, we definitely spoke about it and he said if I ever needed anything, he would be there for me which I appreciated. I was happy that I could leave without any bad blood.

Tevita Pangai Jr left the Bulldogs without a payout to take up boxing.

“I didn’t get a cent from the Dogs. Anyone who has dealt with me knows I am very fair at the negotiating table. I’m not driven by money. My parents always said don’t rip anyone off. I’ve had bigger offers in my time in the NRL and I happily took less to play in winning teams.

“I don’t care if people think I’m money hungry. I got to move back to Brisbane and box and the Dogs had $750,000 to play with.

“I think it was a fair deal in the end.”

THE FIGHT GAME

There is a view Pangai Jr is delusional quitting the riches of the NRL for the boom-or-bust world of boxing.

At 28, the 118kg enforcer could have pocketed more than $3 million if he played another five years of NRL. In his most recent fight in October, Pangai Jr made just $50,000.

On Friday morning, he sparred in a near-empty gym on Brisbane’s southside, sweating alongside fellow heavyweights Toese Vousiutu and Teremoana Jr, who will represent Australia at the upcoming Olympics.

It’s a world away from the fame and bright lights of Suncorp Stadium, which could again be Pangai Jr’s home if he returns to the Broncos for a late-season cameo.

Tevita Pangai Jr has no regrets about leaving the NRL for boxing. Picture: Adam Head.

For now, though, Pangai Jr is following his heart.

“I really do love the sport of boxing,” he said.

“I have signed a two-fight deal and I’m giving it my all in the sport.

“The hardest thing is getting used to being punched in the face, but once you get used to it, it’s actually a nice feeling.

“I feel like I can fight for the next decade. It’s a long and hard road but I believe I can make some noise in boxing.

“I do feel I have more clarity in my life. I’m now married with two kids and I can’t be happier being home in Brisbane.

“I don’t hate rugby league. You definitely didn’t see the best of me in the NRL. I feel like I could have done better with my consistency, but I don’t know what the future holds.

“I think I can succeed in two sports. Boxing and rugby league work together in many ways, I don’t think the training can hurt me in boxing and vice-versa with league.

“If I was to go down that path - mixing boxing and NRL - I don’t think it would be an issue for me.”

Originally published as Tevita Pangai Jr open to an NRL return at the Broncos, reveals rugby union poaching raid