Bulldogs newcomers Josh Addo-Carr, Brent Naden and Tevita Pangai Jnr want to form new left edge in 2022
Josh Addo-Carr and Tevita Pangai Jnr have hit the ground running at Belmore and are ready to forge a formidable left side combination. See photos from day one at training here.
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Tevita Pangai Jr has dropped a significant hint on the makeup Canterbury’s new-look side after the former Penrith Panther and fellow new recruit Josh Addo-Carr reported for pre-season training.
With the Bulldogs overhaul in full swing, the last of the club’s 10 new recruits for 2022 lobbed at Belmore on Monday, ready to forge a formidable left-side combination.
The Bulldogs finished last season with a left side of winger Corey Allan, centre Aaron Schoupp and Jack Hetherington in the back row.
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While Hetherington showed promise on the edge, the left is in for a shake-up with new faces Addo-Carr, Pangai Jr and Brent Naden shaping as the frontrunners for round one against North Queensland.
“I think the plan is to be on the left edge with Brent Naden. I’m not too sure how it will be but Naden wants me there on the left with the Fox (Addo-Carr) as well. But we’ll see how I go,” Pangai Jr told News Corp.
Fresh from his first victory as a professional boxer on Saturday night, Pangai Jr is currently tipping the scale at around 114 kilograms. The forward, who cut an imposing figure during day one as Bulldog, said he planned to drop even more weight over the summer.
“I’m tipping the scale at 114kg, but I think I need to drop a few more kilos to try and get down to around 110 kilos. If I can get down to 110 kilograms that will set me up nicely for the season,” Pangai Jr said.
As well as Hetherington and Pangai Jr, other backrow options for coach Trent Barrett include Raymond Faitala-Mariner and Josh Jackson.
Penrith powerhouse and left edge backrower Viliame Kikau will also join Barrett’s roster in 12 months time.
“I’ll just keep it warm for him and then Kikau can have the left edge and I can go back into the middle or onto the right edge,” Pangai Jr said.
“Kikau was named the backrower of the year, so wherever he wants to play he deserves, too. I’ll just play in the middle or right edge, I don’t mind where I play.”
Former Melbourne flyer Addo-Carr confirmed the trio’s quest to claim the left edge over the pre-season.
Addo-Carr and former Panthers centre Naden both hail from the same NSW country town but have never had the chance to play alongside one another.
“My cousin Brent Naden, he’s the one I’m really looking to playing with, we’re both from a country town, our families, our parents are Wellington NSW, we’re mob,” Addo-Carr said.
“We’ve haven‘t played a footy game with him yet and I can’t wait to rip in with him and the rest of the boys.”
Like Addo-Carr, Pangai Jr is confident the Bulldogs can overcome a last-placed finish in season 2021 to transform into a top eight contender in a matter of a single pre-season.
The former Brisbane and Panthers forward believes the club’s new-found stability at the executive level has been crucial to the side’s rebuild.
“Just looking at the club from outside over the last few years, there obviously has been an issue with the board, that was a bit of a mess. But John Khoury (Chairman) and Gus (Gould) have come on board, along with Trent, and I feel like things are turning.” Pangai Jr said.
“We are recruiting the right cattle, we’ve signed a lot of strike.
“But from my time at Penrith I have learned that defence is everything and Foxx would know that as well, Matt Burton, too, from Penrith would know.”
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
1. Matt Dufty
2. Nick Cotric
3. Aaron Schoupp
4. Brent Naden
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Matt Burton
7. Jake Averillo
8. Luke Thompson
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Paul Vaughan
11. Tevita Pangai Jr
12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
13. Josh Jackson
14. Bailey Biondi-Odo
15. Ava Seumanufagai
16. Jack Hetherington
17. Corey Waddell/John Asiata
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