NRL news: Tevita Pangai Jr open to Wayne Bennett Redcliffe reunion at Dolphins
While heavily linked for a return to the Broncos, another club is looking to bolster their forwards stocks, opening the door for a potential return to rugby league for Tevita Pangai Jr.
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Tevita Pangai Jr says he is open to a comeback at the Dolphins after super coach Wayne Bennett on Saturday left the door ajar for his former Broncos protege.
Bennett has not ruled out making a play for Pangai Jr to help ease the Dolphins’ forward injury crisis ahead of Sunday’s round 2 clash against the Dragons at Kayo Stadium.
Strike back-rower Connelly Lemuelu suffered grade-two MCL damage in last week’s loss to the Cowboys, while Queensland Origin star Tom Gilbert will not be seen at all this season.
The Dolphins ironman snapped his ACL in pre-season and the injury has been compounded by a blood-clot issue that has forced Gilbert to delay reconstructive surgery, which could see him miss the early stages of 2025.
Those injury dramas have triggered the prospect of Pangai Jr and Bennett reuniting at the Dolphins this season as the veteran coach looks to bolster his side’s forward stocks.
The former NSW Origin enforcer dropped a bombshell on the Bulldogs by quitting last August to take up professional boxing, but made a return to the Hostplus Cup for Broncos feeder club Souths Logan last week.
Souths Logan assistant Justin Hodges and Redcliffe coach Ben Te’o were impressed with Pangai’s display last week, with Bennett also in attendance to watch TPJ.
Speaking on the eve of the Dolphins-Dragons showdown at Redcliffe, Bennett confirmed the NRL’s 17th team has enough money under the salary cap to afford Pangai Jr.
“There’s always a temptation to go to the open market, but the right player has to be out there for us,” he said.
“I saw the game as well and I wasn’t as impressed as his coach, but I know Tevita well, I know what he can do, he is a wonderful player and I have a lot of time for him.
“There’s lots of things we have done well here and one thing we have done well is hold our nerve and not waste our money and not waste positions.
“We are only allowed 30 in our NRL squad and we are playing under our salary cap.
“We have money to buy a player, we have two players still to fill up 30 positions, so we are probably a couple of million dollars under the salary cap because we haven’t (filled our roster).”
The Broncos have been linked with Pangai Jr – the parties held preliminary talks six weeks ago – but Brisbane have not tabled an offer at this stage.
As a teenager, Pangai Jr personally phoned Bennett to be mentored by the legendary coach at the Broncos. Bennett handed Pangai Jr his NRL debut in 2016, but has since lost touch with the Tongan torpedo.
“I had his number but I lost it, it doesn’t work anymore,” Bennett said with his trademark grin.
“But he is Tevita, mate. He can play.
“There is a big opportunity, we have good balance in our cap and we have money in our cap to spend on quality players so that’s what we are trying to achieve.
“We are looking right now (on the open market).
“In football you are always doing what you have to do today and looking ahead to what you have to do.
“We won’t do that (sign a player) unless we have the right player that suits our club.”
While a fan of Pangai Jr, Bennett is not convinced the 28-year-old can juggle the dual demands of NRL and professional boxing.
If the 138-game veteran was determined to join Bennett at the Dolphins, he would most likely have to hang up the gloves for the time being.
Pangai Jr told this masthead on Saturday he is prepared to hold talks with Bennett to gauge his interest.
“I have a lot of respect for Wayne,” he said.
“He was the reason I went to the Broncos, he always got the best out of me as a footballer and he cared for me on a personal level as well.
“I think he can do for me what he did for Jamayne Isaako.
“Jamayne went to the Dolphins and had an incredible season back under Wayne, so if Wayne wanted to reach out to me, I would be happy to talk to him and see what happens.
“I’m back playing for Souths Logan and while I’m keen to continue boxing, I wouldn’t rule out a return to the NRL.”
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