‘I’m ready Kevvie’: Tevita Pangai Jr confident he can handle NRL and boxing

Pictures of Tevita Pangai Jr attending last weekend’s Dolphins match had the rumour mill in overdrive, but the former NSW enforcer says he wants to end up back at the Broncos as he prepares for his fight this weekend.

Tevita Pangai Jr has ruled out an NRL comeback with the Dolphins after talks with Wayne Bennett and says his heart is with the Broncos, declaring: “I’m ready Kevvie.”

The former NSW Origin enforcer continues his professional boxing journey on Saturday night when Pangai Jr (3-0, 2KO) takes on Raphael Sa’u (1-0-1) at JBS Basketball Stadium in Ipswich.

But the rugby league rumour mill went into overdrive on Sunday when Pangai Jr was spotted at the Dolphins-Dragons clash, fuelling speculation he could embark on a Redcliffe reunion with Bennett.

Bennett put out the welcome mat on the eve of the Dragons showdown when the super coach revealed the Dolphins had “millions” to spend in their salary cap and could afford Pangai Jr.

This masthead can reveal Bennett and Pangai Jr had informal discussions over the weekend where the 74-year-old expressed reservations about his former protege’s ability to juggle NRL and boxing.

Pangai Jr returned to rugby league with Brisbane’s feeder club Souths Logan a fortnight ago and while he gave serious thought to reuniting with Bennett, the 28-year-old remains hopeful of a Red Hill renaissance.

“I spoke to Wayne on Saturday after his press conference,” said Pangai Jr, who was blooded at the Broncos by Bennett in 2016.

“He got my number and we had a talk.

“I’ve had a good think about it the last few days.

“Wayne just told me if boxing is what makes me happy, then I should focus on that and rugby league will always be there.

“I loved playing under Wayne, but to be honest I don’t want to lead anyone on.

“I have a lot of time for a lot of people at the Dolphins. I know guys like Jamayne (Isaako) from the Broncos and I got on well with Wayne, Terry Reader (CEO) and Jeremy Hickmans (Dolphins high-performance chief) when they were at the Broncos, so I have ties with them.

“I would feel comfortable at the Dolphins but my heart is with the Broncos and if I can’t get a start with the Broncos, then I don’t want to waste other people’s time.

“I feel the Dolphins wouldn’t get the best version of me – the Broncos would – and that’s why I didn’t call Wayne originally because I don’t want to waste his time.

“A lot of people use other clubs’ interest as leverage in negotiations, but that’s not the way I want to do business.

“I don’t want to be known as a bloke that does that.”

Tevita Pangai Jr continues his boxing journey, but hasn’t ruled out returning to rugby league. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Broncos are currently exploring the open market for a forward to add to their squad. They have two full-time spots available in their 30-man roster and around $300,000 to spend under the salary cap, an amount that would be palatable to Pangai Jr.

“I never thought about coming back to league until the Broncos reached out to me and I have some good mates there,” he said.

“Footy is about playing with your mates.

“Right now, I am committed to doing well in boxing, but I love playing rugby league and I believe I can offer something to the Broncos.

“I’m not chasing massive money. All I would want is enough to pay the bills.

“The bigger attraction for me is winning a premiership. I went close at Penrith and I believe the Broncos are in a premiership window.

“To be in a good team, history shows the best players take less to win premierships. I would love to play with my mates like Payne and Patty Carrigan.

“Whenever Kevvie (coach Kevin Walters) is ready to give me a call, I’m ready.

“It’s either the Broncos or I will just play Queensland Cup and keep boxing.

“I’m not too sure if the Broncos need anyone but if they want some experience, I’m available.”

Pangai Jr is taking boxing seriously. He has moved out of his family home for the past eight weeks, paying $600 a week in rent at a Brisbane Airbnb to ensure he is fully focused on chalking up his fourth consecutive win in the ring.

“It’s a 50-50 fight,” he said.

“I’ve put in a lot of work over the summer and I’ll back my fitness.

“I have only been boxing two years but I feel confident in my prep. I have been running 10km so I’m taking this seriously.

“At my gym we train to be ready for six rounds of war but if I stop him earlier, great.

“Whatever it takes to get the win.”

Pangai was one of Wayne Bennett’s proteges. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Pangai Jr is adamant he can handle the dual demands of football and fighting. He also hit back at his critics, who have slammed the former Broncos forward as a “disgrace” for claiming he was forced to play rugby league by his parents.

“I believe you definitely can do both,” he said.

“I have always used boxing as a way to stay fit, so I don’t believe it’s a distraction for me. I would only have a few fights a year, so it wouldn’t affect my workload in the NRL.

“Wayne is a great coach and a great farmer. I can be a good NRL player and a good boxer.

“Rugby league was definitely forced on me as a kid, but I’m glad it was forced on me by my parents because it kept me off the streets.

“My parents moved us out of Sydney to Newcastle because me and my brothers were going down the wrong path, that’s where I found my true love for the game and hard work.

“In rugby league you’re on a set salary, everything is taken care of, in boxing you have to sell a fight.

“Nick Livermore (boxing promoter) invested a lot into my last show (in October in Townsville) and I wanted to repay him for looking after me and my family on the card by selling the fight.

“It is show business. I was painted as a bad boy in the NRL and the ‘Bad Boy’ sells in boxing but looking back I’m not Anthony Mundine and I’m not Paul Gallen.

“I believe my style will sell – it’s either I go for the knock out or I want a war.

“At the end of the day people just want to see a good fight … not people talking shit in a press conference.”