NRL 2024: Tevita Pangai Jr joins Souths Logan, Broncos salary cap moves explained
A surprise detail in Tevita Pangai Jr’s deal to return to rugby league can be revealed as he eyes a possible second coming as a Bronco.
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It’s official. Tevita Pangai Jr is returning to rugby league ... for free.
The controversial former Bulldogs enforcer has agreed terms for a comeback with Broncos feeder-club Souths Logan in the Queensland Cup after talks on Thursday night with Magpies coach Karmichael Hunt.
As revealed by this masthead a fortnight ago, Pangai Jr was considering a shock comeback to rugby league — just six months after dropping a bombshell on the Bulldogs by quitting the NRL to take up professional boxing.
Now Pangai Jr’s rugby league resurrection is real. The former NSW Origin prop has inked a deal with Souths Logan, Brisbane’s affiliate club, in what shapes as the first step back towards a possible second coming at the Broncos.
Speaking exclusively to News Corp, Pangai Jr confirmed he had shaken hands with Hunt and will don the famous Magpies jumper once worn by NRL legends Mal Meninga and Gary Belcher.
Incredibly, despite being offered a playing fee by Souths Logan, the Tongan torpedo is willing to play for nothing.
In an age of big bucks and ruthless professionalism, Pangai Jr says he has no regrets leaving behind a $750,000 deal at the Bulldogs to play in the second-tier as a volunteer.
“This is a new me. I’m happy to play for free,” Pangai Jr said.
“Souths have offered me some money but I’d rather it go to other players in the team.
“It’s great to come back to Souths. I have great memories playing there _ one of them was my debut for the club.
“Wayne (Bennett, NRL super coach) came to watch. I had a terrible first half.
“He grabbed me before I got to the sheds and said I was playing shithouse and to fix up my performance ... we ended up winning the game.
“I’m happy to come back and play for a can of coke and a chocolate bar.
“I am at my happiest when I don’t have the stress of thinking how much money I am on.
“I can just come back to being like a kid that enjoyed his footy.
“I know people say it’s a business but every time I’ve looked at rugby league in that way, I have let myself down.”
Pangai Jr is bracing for a busy sporting schedule in 2024, with the former NRL forward-turned-boxer to return to the ring on March 23 for his fourth professional fight against Kiwi Raphael Sa’u (1-0-1).
Pangai Jr’s heavyweight showdown with Sa’u in Ipswich will be a preamble to the Tongan torpedo eyeing a return to Souths Logan around April in the first step towards a possible Broncos lifeline.
Hunt, the former Broncos champion, believes Pangai Jr can be a match-winner for the Magpies.
“It’s a great pick up for us,” Hunt said.
“It’s awesome to see Tevita back in rugby league. For him to be back at Souths, where he has played before, it’s a great story for the game and we’re excited to have him on board.
“Tevita expressed to me how keen he was to come back and play and we’re more than happy to accommodate him once his boxing commitments ease up.
“A player of his quality is huge at this level.
“It says a lot about Tevita’s character that he wants to come back at this level and if he has aspirations to make it back to the NRL, you have to start doing the grafting and he is keen to do that at Souths Logan.”
A veteran of 138 NRL games, Pangai Jr is going back to the future. He played six games for Souths Logan in the Queensland Cup in 2016-17 after quitting Canberra as a teenager and moving to Brisbane to be mentored by then Broncos super coach Wayne Bennett.
Pangai Jr’s impending return to Souths Logan will help build his match fitness and give the Broncos a possible forward option if they crunch the salary-cap numbers to try and bring the Tongan Test ace back to Red Hill.
With the Broncos still having three full-time spots available in their 30-man roster, Brisbane could secure Pangai Jr this season on a bargain rate at $277,000.
Since his return to Brisbane, Pangai Jr has rediscovered his passion for rugby league. He met with Broncos bosses last month for a preliminary chat and scoffed at suggestions his Souths Logan return is a publicity stunt as he looks to juggle football and boxing.
“I’m serious about doing well,” he said.
“I have a two-fight deal and that’s locked in, but going back to Souths Logan, Karmichael is understanding of that and I’ll be playing as many games as I can in between fights.
“This is not about money. I want to give back and if I do go back to the NRL, I don’t want to waste anyone’s time.
“Karmichael was great in our chats. I played a couple games with Karmichael at the Broncos in 2021 and he was already mentoring and helping a lot of us younger players.
“I love playing rugby league at this level. I’d like to play alongside a young guy like Ben Te Kura (Broncos rookie prop) and help him along.”
The Broncos have until June 30 to sign Pangai Jr, who could be available for Brisbane as late as their round 17 clash against the Warriors on June 29.
Hunt hopes a Pangai Jr cameo at the Magpies is a successful stepping stone to the 28-year-old’s return to an NRL club.
“We will have Tevita for most of the first half of the season,” he said.
“In saying that, who knows how long Tevita will be with us.
“Someone of his ability not contracted to an NRL club, it only takes an injury or two for coaches to look for replacements.
“Tevita is an Origin and Test player, so if he is fit and healthy, who knows who comes knocking for him.
“For now, he can’t wait to put the Souths Logan jumper back on and I’m happy to support him.”
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