Gorden Tallis: Payne Haas deserves his offer, but what slice of the pie does that leave Tevita Pangai Jr?

BRISBANE’S re-signing of Payne Haas has attracted all the headlines this week. But here’s my question: what about Tevita Pangai Jr?

Gorden Tallis has questioned the salary cap space used on Payne Haas.

BRISBANE’S re-signing of Payne Haas has attracted all the headlines this week.

But here’s my question: what about Tevita Pangai Jr?

I have been watching the Broncos closely over the past six weeks and he has been their best player. He is also off-contract.

If an 18-year-old with three games of NRL experience can get a multimillion-dollar deal, I cannot wait to see what someone like Pangai Jr can get.

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Gorden Tallis has questioned the salary cap space used on Payne Haas.. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

I actually don’t care how much people get paid. I wish every player was on this type of money.

And this is not about Haas.

You can change the name to any 18-year-old in the phone book.

My problem is the share of the salary cap he is getting and the pressure we’re putting on young kids today.

The ramifications could be huge.

I know it’s because the salary cap is almost $10 million now.

But there would be guys playing Origin who are not making what Haas is about to make and I really hope the Broncos have enough room for Pangai Jr too.

Tevita Pangai Jr is yet to make a decision on his future. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

If I’m his manager, I’m going in to negotiations all guns blazing.

The managers get dirty when they see deals like this because they work on commission, meaning they get a clip of the ticket.

They’re going to tell the player what they want to hear and Pangai Jr, he is worth every cent someone is willing to throw at him.

The players are naturally going to question, ‘If they’re willing to pay this guy that much, what am I worth?’.

Tallis question whether Brisbane will be able to afford the money Pangai will command. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

The Broncos also have Matt Lodge and Jaydn Su’A coming off contract and I have no doubt other clubs would be willing to pay big money for those guys as well.

In my opinion, other NRL clubs are in the front seat for those signatures now.

The reason I like Pangai Jr is because he’s super tough.

Alongside Joe Ofahengaue, he has been Brisbane’s best this year.

Ofahengaue is the kind of player who flies under the radar. He gets through a mountain of work and you don’t realise unless you watch him really closely.

And then you get Pangai Jr who comes up with those special moments, finds the points and has that x-factor.

The quality that he can play at for a long time is outstanding.

I don’t even think we have scratched the surface with him yet.

He’s just started believing in himself.

He removed himself from NSW selection earlier this year and said it was because of Tonga.

But I think part of it was due to the fact he didn’t think he was good enough.

But now he knows he can play at that level because he’s put his toe in the water and realised he has a bit more to offer.

When you work in the constraints of a salary cap, I hope the Broncos have been smart around their decisions with Haas and Pangai Jr.

I really hope they have the money to keep Pangai Jr.

I can’t wait to see what his future holds.

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