Broncos bad boy Tevita Pangai Jr turns to legal team to save rugby league career
Under fire Tevita Pangai Jr is refusing to go down without a fight with the Broncos star hiring lawyers to save his NRL and Brisbane career.
NRL
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Tevita Pangai Jr has enlisted the help of lawyers as the under fire Brisbane star prepares to take on NRL and Broncos hierarchy to clear his name and avoid his $650,000 contract being torn up.
The Sunday Mail can reveal Pangai Jr has engaged legal representation and sought advice from the Rugby League Players Association in his quest to seek reinstatement to the NRL and the Broncos this season.
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The Broncos forward has been fined $30,000 by the NRL and indefinitely stood down from playing duties after breaching the code‘s strict COVID guidelines with his visit to a bikie-owned barber shop last week.
An NRL integrity unit probe, which included an interview with Pangai Jr, found the Tongan international had breached a number of the NRL’s biosecurity rules, triggering the heavy sanctions.
Brisbane‘s board is also in the process of serving a breach-of-contract notice that could lead to the 24-year-old’s dismissal from his Broncos contract, which expires at the end of 2022.
But Pangai Jr is fighting back.
The Broncos back-rower has held talks with lawyers to discuss his situation and whether breaking the NRL’s COVID protocols gives Brisbane the power to terminate his contract.
It is understood Pangai Jr is also furious at some details of his interview with NRL integrity-unit officers reaching the public domain.
Pangai Jr has told his legal team he disputes allegations he described the Broncos as a “basket case” and that he didn’t care if he breached the NRL’s COVID guidelines. He told lawyers he is adamant he wants to play for the Broncos again this season.
The Broncos have had enough of Pangai Jr’s on and off-field dramas – he has been suspended four times in a 14-month period – and believe the forward’s trip to the barber shop alleged to have links to the Mongols bikie gang brings Brisbane’s $52 million brand into disrepute.
The Broncos board has yet to issue Pangai Jr with a formal breach notice, but they plan to do so and are awaiting further details from the NRL’s separate probe before taking official action.
Pangai Jr is keen to avoid a bitter legal wrangle with the Broncos but wants to prove to the NRL and the community he is a “fit and proper person” to return to rugby league.
RLPA boss Clint Newton confirmed Pangai Jr is keen to revive his Broncos career this season with the players union watching the matter closely.
“Tevita is remorseful,” Newton said.
“He is also willing to work through a process to re-enter the bubble which shows he hasn’t put the cue in the rack for the season.
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“That demonstrates Tevita wants to make a contribution to the Broncos but the NRL also needs a level of trust and confidence in Tevita to do that.
“We will continue to play a supportive role with Tevita. He knows as a body we are there to support him if he needs further assistance.”
It is understood the NRL do not expect Pangai Jr to be cleared to play again this season.
But as part of correspondence supplied to Pangai Jr, the forward can be considered for Brisbane’s final two games against Parramatta on September 18 and the Cowboys on September 24.
Pangai Jr wants to return for those matches in the hope his 81-game Broncos career is not over.