NRL 2024: Tevita Pangai Jnr on track to make his Dolphins debut against Storm at Suncorp Stadium

Tevita Pangai Jnr quipped Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett told him he loved him before asking him if his head and heart were fully invested in his latest comeback.

Tevita Pangai Junior. NRL Photos

Tevita Pangai Jnr quipped Wayne Bennett told him he loved him but still sought assurances Pangai’s head and heart were fully invested in his latest comeback.

The flighty forward had his first training session with the Dolphins on Monday and is set to be rushed into Friday’s game against the Storm at Suncorp Stadium if a slight hamstring issue subsides.

“Hopefully Wayne picks me against the Storm on Friday. It will be a good test for me,’’ Pangai Jnr said.

Pangai Jnr seemed destined never to return to rugby league when he exited his last deal with the Bulldogs and took up boxing, even suggesting he wanted to be his own boss after having enough of being bossed around by halfbacks and coaches.

He now insists those words were just an attempt to sell tickets to his boxing bouts.

Dolphins mentor Bennett is the one senior coach Pangai Jnr has clicked with and he has signed the 28-year-old with the Dolphins after monitoring his form and mindset for (Brisbane) Souths.

Tevita Pangai Junior. NRL Photos

“It was more where my heart was,’’ Pangai Jnr said. “Obviously I took some time away from the game. I did some boxing which was fun.

“Wayne just wanted to know I was 100 per cent committed to playing under him and the Dolphins. I can only show that through my performances and hopefully this Friday I can put in a good performance.

“He told me to keep my job simple. Be powerful, just be myself, play footy … pretty simple, playing under Wayne. That’s what I like.’’

Asked what else Bennett said to him, Pangai laughed and claimed: “He just told me he loved me and that’s it. I will play my best footy for you mate.’’

If Pangai fires for the Dolphins he will face an interesting career decision at the end of the season when Bennett heads to South Sydney. Pangai said he had not made a decision about next winter.

“Like the great Billy Slater I am just worried about where my feet are at the moment. When I look too far ahead that is when I run into a lot of dramas.’’

Even though Pangai was quoted a few weeks ago as saying he wanted to return to the Broncos ahead of the Dolphins, he said playing with the Bromwich brothers, Jesse and Kenny, would give him special satisfaction.

“Before Jesse retires, I’m going to try to pick his brain. People forget how good he was. He was the Payne Haas before Payne Haas. He’s a player that I loved watching coming up through the ranks.