NRL 2023: Boxing convert Tevita Pangai Jr on Dolphins, Bulldogs and Cameron Ciraldo

Tevita Pangai Jr has declared he’s prepared to meet with Wayne Bennett after the Dolphins coach expressed interest in luring the boxing convert back to the NRL.

Tevita Pangai Jr. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Boxing convert Tevita Pangai Jr has closed the door on joining Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins and delivered his verdict on Canterbury’s club culture and under-pressure coach Cameron Ciraldo.

Pangai Jr ramped up preparations for his October 7 return to the ring by training with Australian boxing stars Justin Huni and Jai Opetaia on the Gold Coast on Tuesday.

Huni and Opetaia – two of Australia’s elite boxers – showed Pangai Jr around the ropes as the trio prepare for fights following lengthy lay-offs.

Pangai Jr, 27, last month shocked the NRL when he announced his immediate retirement from rugby league to pursue a career in professional boxing.

In quitting the NRL, Pangai Jr walked away from his $750,000-a-season Bulldogs contract to chase an unknown future in the ring.

Tevita Pangai Junior says he will speak to Wayne Bennett — but not about an NRL return. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Few could believe Pangai Jr’s shock career switch and Bennett threw the door open for a reunion at Redcliffe.

However the former Broncos forward insists he is committed to boxing and won’t be returning to the NRL.

“Na, I’ll definitely catch up with him but just to get some advice and that’s it,” Pangai Jr said when asked if Bennett could tempt him to the Dolphins next season.

“I’m not catching up with him to come back to footy.”

When probed on whether he had 100 per cent closed the door on the NRL, Pangai Jr said: “Yeah mate, I’ve been saying that all along.

“You can’t be 50-50 in boxing.

“I’m comfortable. I’ve walked away from a chunk of money, but I plan on making that in one night one time, so we’ll see how we go.”

Tevita Pangai Junior says he’s focused on making a success of his switch to boxing. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Upon quitting the Bulldogs, Pangai Jr returned to Brisbane and got straight into his old boxing gym at Logan.

After six seasons and 96 NRL games with the Broncos, he admits he lost his way during two years with the Bulldogs and has relished a return to routine in Queensland.

“The main thing I did it for was to come back and live in Brisbane,” he said.

“I missed my gym, my wife misses her family. I feel comfortable in Brisbane.

“I feel like I lost my way there in Sydney. I can come back to Brisbane and work on my discipline, my routine and master that.

“You get comfortable in a team sport. I want something that’s a bit more high-pressure.

“It’s all on you (in boxing). You don’t have 12 other blokes to rely on.

Wayne Bennett has shown interest in bringing Pangai to the Dolphins. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Pangai Jr has backed Cameron Ciraldo to turn the Bulldogs around.

“This is what makes me happy. Being woken up every morning at 4.30am, going to train, this is the life I love.

“You can’t do that as a footy player. You have to work on their time and go to training on their time.

“I want to train when I want to train – that’s in the morning. I work on it every day. I go home and watch boxing all day. I live it, love it.”

Pangai Jr has won his two previous fights and will return to the ring on the Battle on the Reef card in Townsville against Gold Coast heavyweight Frank Amato.

He isn’t sure what’s on the horizon but was adamant he didn’t walk out on the Bulldogs due to the club’s under-fire culture or rookie coach Ciraldo.

“One of my best mates is Viliame Kikau and he’s leading the way and showing those boys the winning culture and a coach as well that I love,” he said.

“I think he’ll be good. In a couple of years they’ll start to make some noise and contend for top four positions.

Justis Huni, Jai Opetaia, Tevita Pangai Jr.

“One hundred per cent (Ciraldo is a good coach).

“This is the thing you don’t study. Damien Hardwick (former Richmond coach) in his first year, Wayne Bennett … almost got the sack.

“Let’s hope ‘Gus’ (Phil Gould) and the board back him (Ciraldo), the fans back him and he shows how good of a coach he is.”

Huni, who will fight Andrew Tabiti in Mexico on October 28, said Pangai Jr was a promising boxer.

“I’m proud of him,” Huni said.

“I’m happy he’s in the boxing scene and making noise. You see what (Paul) Gallen did, he brought a lot of eyes to boxing. Hopefully Tevita can do the same thing.

“He’s got the knockout power. That’s what people want to see.”