Brisbane set for monster retention coup with Tevita Pangai Jr to sign on for 2019 NRL season
EXPLOSIVE Brisbane Broncos forward Tevita Pangai Jr has finally ended months of speculation, officially revealing where he will play in 2019.
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TEVITA Pangai Jr says he will stay loyal to Brisbane with or without super coach Wayne Bennett as he prepares to ink a new deal in a massive retention coup for the Broncos.
Speaking to The Courier-Mail while holidaying in America, the code’s most explosive young forward on Wednesday uttered the words every Brisbane fan wanted to hear, saying: “I will sign with the Broncos.”
Speculation has surrounded Pangai Jr’s future at the Broncos for the past nine months with the Tongan torpedo playing the entire 2018 campaign without a contract for next season.
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There were also fears Pangai Jr could walk out on Brisbane to follow Bennett, with whom he has a close bond after ringing the veteran coach two years ago asking to be mentored at Red Hill.
But the Broncos have got their man.
Pangai Jr has shunned interest from Newcastle and Canberra and will formally sign a 12-month extension with Brisbane when he returns from his US trip in late November.
While the short-term deal leaves him a free agent at the same time as Bennett — who is unwanted by Brisbane for 2020 — Pangai Jr says the one-year contract is designed to avoid complacency.
“As soon as I get back from America I will sign with the Broncos. Hopefully this ends all the rumours now,” Pangai Jr said.
“I just want to sign a one-year deal.
“It’s got nothing to do with what’s happened with Wayne leaving the club. I told the club way back in Round 2 after the Cowboys game that I only wanted to do a 12-month deal.
“I’m a young guy and I want to back myself.
“I think I’ve got a lot of improvement in me as a player and it’s in my best interests to do a one-year deal.
“I love the Broncos but I have to do what’s best for myself as an individual, so just the one year suits me.
“It’s always been my intention to keep working hard and keep challenging myself.”
Pangai Jr played 22 games last season and produced some barnstorming performances that saw him labelled Brisbane’s version of Cowboys wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo.
But he was also left frustrated by a series of hamstring injuries which have prompted the 22-year-old to undergo intensive off-season rehabilitation to strengthen his lower body.
The 113kg forward held talks with Newcastle coach Nathan Brown just a month before the NRL finals, but says he never seriously considered quitting the Broncos.
“I looked at the Newcastle set-up but it was a curiosity thing,” he said.
“I am from Newcastle and my best mates are there, so naturally I was keen to look at their set-up.
“They are going to be a strong club in the next few years so they were attractive, but I feel like I can play my best football at the Broncos.”
Pangai Jr admits he was stung by the impending departure of Bennett, who has played a key role in the Tongan international’s evolution as an NRL matchwinner.
“I was disappointed for Wayne but everyone gets the tap on the shoulder one day, you just have to be ready for it,” he said.
“What can I say? It’s life in the NRL but there were a lot of things that were out of control for the players (last season).
“Wayne did a great job of keeping us boys together. He’s a great coach but I have faith in the Broncos board to find the right coach to take us forward.”
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