NRL 2021: Tevita Pangai Jr opens up on his Broncos exit and joining the Panthers and Bulldogs
When Tevita Pangai Jr needed some reassurance over his move from the Broncos to the Bulldogs it was Wayne Bennett who set him straight.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Tevita Pangai Jr says he has no bad blood with Brisbane and has assured Penrith and the Bulldogs he will not step out of line after his tumultuous tenure at the Broncos.
Pangai Jr’s drama-charged 96-game chapter at the Broncos is officially over with the NSW Origin hopeful to leave Brisbane next week to take up a three-month cameo with premiership contenders the Panthers.
Pangai Jr has signed a longer-term, three-year deal with the Bulldogs starting next season, but in the meantime the controversial forward could finish the 2021 campaign with a premiership ring at Penrith.
Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
The Tongan Test star’s image took a battering last season when he committed a series of Covid breaches that saw him almost sacked at the Broncos, placed on a good-behaviour bond and ordered to work at a garden nursery.
But after being thrown lifelines by the Panthers and Bulldogs, Pangai Jr insists he is not a problem child as he prepares to return from suspension for Penrith’s round 21 clash against the Roosters on August 7.
“I feel like I’ve learnt my lesson from Covid last year,” said Pangai Jr, who made his Broncos debut in 2016. “I went away and I wasn’t paid for a while by the Broncos.
“I worked in the nursery and I promised I would do everything I would do in terms of not using social media. I followed all their strict conditions.
“Looking back, I wouldn’t say I’m glad it (his off-field problems) happened, but I have learnt from that period and I’m glad other clubs have showed an interest in me.
“I need to work on my routine and become more consistent. I want to be a better person.
“I just can’t wait to play footy again in a few weeks. I’ve been out for a month and hopefully I can play some footy with them (the Panthers) if they give me a chance, whatever role that is, whether it’s off the bench or helping at training.”
Pangai Jr endured a bittersweet five years at the Broncos.
On his day, he produced some blockbusting matchwinning performances, but new Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy and football boss Ben Ikin believed the 25-year-old needed a fresh start after several seasons of inconsistency.
Pangai Jr admits he was stung by being told he was free to find another club, but says he has no ill-feeling towards Broncos bosses, including coach Kevin Walters.
“It hurt a lot,” he said. “I will miss the club and more importantly I will miss the people and the players. I have struck up some relationships and friendships that will last a lifetime.
“I still think I have a lot of good footy ahead of me. But Dave Donaghy and Benny Ikin felt I needed a change and I’m hoping to get the best out of my football when I head to Belmore. I can’t wait to work with ‘Gus’ (new Bulldogs football chief Phil Gould) and Trent Barrett (coach).
“I have no issues with the Broncos. I wish Dave, ‘Kevvie’ and Ben Ikin all the best. I hope they do well reshaping their salary cap and recruit well and have the success as a club that they want.”
Pangai Jr regards Wayne Bennett as a trusted mentor and the Souths super coach believed the 113kg hulk could flourish under Gould at Canterbury.
The hard-running forward also plans to use his time in Sydney to seek the counsel and training methods of his good mate, Bulldogs legend Sonny Bill Williams.
“I feel like being close to Sonny Bill will help me a lot. I might do some training with him,” Pangai Jr said.
“I spoke to Wayne about my future and he said ‘Gus’ would be really good for me.
“When you mention big names in rugby league, guys like Craig Bellamy, Wayne Bennett and Gus come up. He has a great football brain and I’m excited to work with him.”
🗣 “He’s going to bring a fair bit of X Factor to our team.†— ᴛʀᴇɴᴛ ʙᴀʀʀᴇᴛᴛ
— Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (@NRL_Bulldogs) July 22, 2021
Outhouse to penthouse: TPJ’s golden chance at title
Tevita Pangai Jr has sensationally rocketed into contention to win a premiership ring after being released by the Broncos to sign a three-month, cut-price deal with title contenders Penrith.
Pangai Jr will embark on a 12-week cameo with the Panthers and be part of Penrith’s premiership push after securing a release from the Broncos before the NRL’s August 2 transfer deadline.
It caps a whirlwind few days for Pangai Jr, who initially inked a three-year deal with the Bulldogs on Tuesday, starting next season, before coming to terms with the Panthers just 24 hours later.
Having cleared Pangai Jr to join the Bulldogs next season, the Broncos received a fresh, short-term transfer request from the Panthers and have given the green light ahead of Saturday’s clash against Penrith at Suncorp Stadium.
For Pangai Jr, it represents the ultimate career revival. He will go from the outhouse at wooden-spooners the Broncos to the penthouse at Penrith, the most consistent side of the past 18 months who with the Storm are frontrunners to win this year’s title.
The Panthers had denied News Corp’s exclusive report Pangai Jr was set to join the club, but with James Fisher-Harris to miss up to three games due to the birth of his child, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary was desperate for forward back up.
It has arrived in the shape of blockbusting 113kg powerhouse Pangai Jr, who has played his last game for the Broncos and will be available for Penrith’s round 21 clash against the Roosters.
Penrith CEO Brian Fletcher confirmed the Tongan torpedo will join the Panthers on Monday week in a late-season signing coup for the reigning minor premiers.
“It’s still in the process of happening but it will happen in the next 24 hours,” Fletcher told Sydney radio of TPJ’s signing on Wednesday.
“We are just waiting on a little bit of paperwork to be done at the other end (from the Broncos) and it will be finished. Tevita will join the Panthers on Monday, August 2 and prepare for the Roosters game at the end of the week.
“(On Tuesday morning), I announced nothing was happening which it wasn’t.
“Then at 11am, an hour later, the football manager (Matt Cameron) rang me and said Ivan Cleary was on the phone, he wasn’t aware that Fisher-Harris would miss up to three games and Ivan felt we should make another play for Tevita.
“We were one big body short so the play restarted for Tevita.”
It is understood Pangai Jr held talks with Cleary in the past week before he formally inked a deal with the Bulldogs.
The Panthers were keen to snare Pangai Jr on a short-term deal, but there was a stumbling block when the NRL’s salary-cap auditor placed a notional value of around $130,000 for the unwanted Bronco’s services.
Fletcher said the Panthers had no issues finding the funds to secure Pangai Jr, who is tipped to come off the bench during their premiership assault as Penrith’s interchange shock weapon.
“We had plenty of space in the salary cap, we had 29 players signed so we had a space available,” Fletcher said. “We needed the tick off from the NRL and we got that, then it was up to Tevita’s manager to negotiate with the Broncos for a release and away we go.
“The Broncos aren’t in a bubble so he can transfer to the Sunshine Coast.”
Despite his erratic form at the Broncos, the explosive Pangai Jr is a man in demand with Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett relishing the impact he can have at Belmore next year.
“Being able to bring a forward of Tevita’s quality to the club is a massive boost for our playing group for next season and beyond,” he said.
“He is a great ball runner and strong defender and someone who will be the perfect fit with the other forwards that we have.
“He is also a player with international experience who has performed well on that stage and someone who can be a leader within our group.
“I know that everyone at the club is excited about Tevita joining us next season and we believe that he will be a major asset moving forward.”
Broncos football boss Ben Ikin said he hoped Pangai Jr succeeded in his next chapters at Penrith and the Bulldogs
“We wish Tevita all the best and we believe the fresh start is a good result for him and for the Broncos,” he said. “Our club is moving through a process of making decisions for the long-term good of the playing roster and as a result we are seeing some players depart.
“We have also had a number of players re-sign and extend with the Broncos in recent months, as well as some high-quality players decide to join us here in Brisbane.
“We are making good progress in finalising our squad for the 2022 season and beyond, and we will continue to work closely with all of our players as we complete that process.”
Broncos help TPJ to become NRL’s new $1m man
Tevita Pangai Jr will become the NRL’s newest $1 million player as the Bulldogs backed the controversial Broncos forward to spearhead Canterbury’s premiership resurgence next season.
News Corp can reveal Pangai Jr’s turbulent tenure at the Broncos will have a silver lining with the 25-year-old set to join the code’s top salary earners by entering the NRL’s Millionaires Club when he arrives at Belmore next year.
Canterbury’s three-year contract is worth $750,000 a season, with the Broncos formally rubberstamping Pangai Jr’s release from the final year of his Brisbane deal to clear the path for his defection to Belmore in 2022.
As part of Brisbane’s severance package, Pangai Jr will receive an estimated $250,000 from the Broncos to supplement his Bulldogs salary next year, catapulting ‘TPJ’ into the NRL’s elite $1 million club.
Just two other forwards in the code boast $1 million contracts - Titans back-rower David Fifita and Cowboys wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo - and Pangai Jr will come under enormous pressure to succeed in Bulldogs colours.
Pangai Jr has endured a chequered career at the Broncos, but Canterbury chiefs insist he will not be a risky investment after new Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould held talks with the Tongan Test star.
“We are thrilled to have someone like Tevita,” Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton said.
“We believe we are paying market value for Tevita and there is upside in him.
“‘Gus’ Gould and Trent Barrett (Bulldogs coach) were very straight with Tevita that there will be hard work ahead but there is also great rewards.
“Gus has been in communication with Tevita and he has been in contact with him.
“Tevita has X-factor. The way the game is evolving, his ability to break the line and his footwork for someone his size is first-class.
“Tevita is someone who, under the right leadership and coaching, can go to the next level.
“We did our due diligence on Tevita. He still has some maturing on the field to do and that’s exciting. He has leadership qualities. The best for Tevita is yet to come.”
More Coverage
Originally published as NRL 2021: Tevita Pangai Jr opens up on his Broncos exit and joining the Panthers and Bulldogs
Gus’ ‘doctored’ claim ignites NRL conspiracy
The NRL Grand Final’s controversial no try scandal has taken a wild turn despite the game releasing the angle the decision was based on.
Kangaroos selection shocks: NRL legends’ Test careers appear over
Mal Meninga has dropped a major selection bombshell by overlooking both James Tedesco and Kalyn Ponga for Kangaroos selection, with the list of surprise omissions and debutants not ending there. See the full squad.