Broncos contracts: Tevita Pangai Jr signing key for Brisbane’s future

BRISBANE’S production line is in full swing with the team building its future around eight players under the age of 23, but one key player remains off-contract.

BRISBANE legend Gorden Tallis has urged the club to sign Tevita Pangai Jr to a new deal, claiming the Broncos firebrand is the poster boy for the club’s best batch of emerging talent in 20 years.

Brisbane’s production line is in full swing with the team building its future around eight players under the age of 23, headlined by forward sensations Pangai Jr (22), and 18-year-olds Payne Haas and David Fifita.

Prop Joe Ofahengaue has grand final experience at age 22, while four other potential stars – Jaydn Su’A (20), Kotoni Staggs (19), Jamayne Isaako (22) and Matt Lodge (23) – have impressed this season.

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Tevita Pangai Jr leads the way for Brisbane’s young forwards.

Su’A signed a two-year extension on Wednesday, leaving Pangai Jr as the only off-contract young gun ahead of tonight’s clash against Cronulla at Suncorp Stadium.

Former skipper Tallis says the club cannot afford to lose Pangai Jr, rating Brisbane’s current crop in the same league as the Baby Broncos of the 1990s – Shane Webcke, Petero Civoniceva, Brad Thorn and Tonie Carroll.

“I did play with Webcke, Thorn, Petero and Tonie, so it’s premature to say these kids are better,” Tallis said.

Jaydn Su'a has re-signed with the Broncos.

“Petero, Webby and Thorn had a pretty full trophy cabinet, but the group of young guys that are coming through right now at the Broncos are very special. I really like Pangai Jr, he is a freak.

“To read that he had a hamstring injury last week (in the win over Penrith) and he was able to play through that shows he is tough mentally.

“He is a real tearaway, he is respectful, it looks like he is a pleasure to coach.

“There would be every club in the game going after him, so I hope the Broncos can keep him.”

Broncos skipper Darius Boyd says he is blown away by the ability of Brisbane’s emerging core to handle the mental and physical demands of NRL.

“I have never seen so many quality kids in our club, it’s pretty exciting to be part of where the club is headed,” he said.

“To achieve what they are achieving at such a young age, they aren’t just making up the numbers, they are making a difference in the NRL.”

Tevita Pangai. The Brisbane Broncos training at Red Hill in Brisbane. Pic Peter Wallis

Broncos centre great Steve Renouf says Pangai Jr is the club’s new Tallis-style “Raging Bull” and believes the young guns will eventually help deliver the side’s seventh NRL premiership.

“This batch of kids coming through are the best I’ve seen since the 1990s,” he said.

“I’m really rapt with the younger forwards coming through, to see so many of them playing NRL at a young age, it would be great to keep this group together for the long haul.

“Pangai Jr is the standout for me. Just the way he has played this year, he is aggressive and he has won games for the Broncos.

“I’ve been saying for years that we need an aggressor and Tevita has that X-factor. He has that bit of Gorden Tallis about him. He just rips in and isn’t intimidated by anyone.’’