Tevita Pangai Jr to be sacked by Brisbane Broncos over COVID-19 breach
Tevita Pangai Jr’s extraordinary COVID-19 breach was the catalyst for the Broncos tearing up his rich contract, but several other infractions worked against the rising star – including alleged phone calls to a rival team.
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Broncos star Tevita Pangai Jr is set to be sacked by Brisbane bosses for his brazen COVID-19 breach as Brisbane bosses on Tuesday night drew a cultural line in the sand for the club’s underperforming playing group.
News Corp Australia can reveal the Broncos board will hit Pangai Jr with a breach-of-contract notice for his COVID-19 offence after becoming embroiled in a police raid on a Mongols bikie barber shop last Saturday.
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Pangai Jr is also facing a potential $40,000 fine from the NRL for his breach of the biosecurity protocols which have seen him rubbed out of Brisbane’s next two matches against Canberra and the Dragons.
The Broncos board convened on Tuesday to discuss Pangai Jr’s indiscretion and want his $650,000 contract torn up immediately.
The Tongan international will have five days to respond to the breach notice, but unless he can provide a compelling counterargument, it appears Pangai Jr has played his last game for the Broncos.
Broncos powerbrokers have had enough of Pangai Jr’s attitude – on and off the field – and discussed a zero-tolerance stance.
The Broncos are the richest club in the NRL and the board has decreed it will not have their $52 million empire tainted by the type of behaviour that saw Pangai Jr go rogue in violation of the NRL’s COVID-19 guidelines to keep the code alive.
The Broncos on Tuesday night released a statement saying Pangai Jr’s future has yet to be decided, but confirmed a probe into his conduct is taking place.
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“The club is still finalising its investigation into Tevita Pangai Jr’s breach of Project Apollo protocols,” a Broncos spokesman said.
“The final determination of any sanction has not been made at this stage.”
But the Broncos board will argue Pangai Jr’s contract breaches are multifaceted.
Not only has he defied the NRL’s COVID-19 guidelines, putting the entire code at risk, but brought the Broncos’ image into disrepute by associating with members of the Mongols bikie organisation.
The Broncos executive is also concerned at Pangai Jr’s self-confessed phone call to Roosters chairman Nick Politis last week amid allegations the forward was shopping himself around to rival clubs.
Pangai Jr has also been a problem child for the Broncos on the field. He has missed 12 games due to four suspensions in 14 months, a rap sheet that has not helped his cause with Broncos hierarchy.
Broncos teammate Joe Ofahengaue accepts the entire playing group is on notice in the wake of Pangai Jr’s moment of madness.
“It’s very disappointing not just for our club but for the whole NRL,” he said.
“We know the pressure is going to be on us. We just have to keep doing the right thing because we don’t want to be the ones to stop the NRL.
“We were told how strict it was especially after the Paul Vaughan and Wayne (Bennett) incidents.
“I can’t speak for Tevita. I can’t speak for his thoughts or his actions. He’s let the club down and he knows that but we’ve just got to learn off his decision.”
In June, Pangai Jr told The Courier-Mail he owed the club for standing by him during his constant suspensions.
“I have to change my ways,” Pangai Jr said.
“I have been looking at myself and my game and trying to get better. I want to have a big year. I feel like I owe that to the boys.
“I am only 24 and the penny has dropped. This is my fifth season now and it’s time for me to deliver. The Broncos have given me a big contract and I have to start paying them back.”
Just 48 hours before Pangai Jr’s COVID breach, Broncos board member Darren Lockyer said the forward had worked hard to improve himself in Brisbane’s leadership group.
But Pangai Jr’s 81-game career at the Broncos now appears to be over.