NRL 2020: Canterbury Bulldogs target Brisbane Broncos Tevita Pangai Jr and Pat Carrigan
They may be favourites for the wooden spoon but that hasn’t stopped the cashed-up Bulldogs plotting to ransack the Broncos playing ranks. SEE WHO THEY ARE TARGETING HERE.
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Cashed-up Canterbury are ready to take advantage of Brisbane’s imploding season by drawing up a hit list of Broncos’ player targets that includes their captain, Pat Carrigan.
News Corp Australia can reveal the Bulldogs have already made discreet expressions of interest in several big-name Broncos, should the crisis-riddled club face a player exodus.
Already poised to open negotiations with Tevita Pangai Jr, should the Tongan international be sacked for a coronavirus breach, the Bulldogs also have Joe Ofahengaue, Thomas Flegler, Tom Dearden and Carrigan in their sights.
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While the quartet are contracted to Brisbane beyond this year, the Bulldogs privately believe the club may be forced into releasing at least one player after failing to offload injured star Jack Bird.
Bird has been shopped to several NRL clubs, including the Bulldogs, with the Broncos offering to pay part of his and his $975,000-a-year deal.
The Broncos development comes as Canterbury’s interest in Melbourne winger Josh Addo-Carr wanes, amid concerns about certain influences he could face in his desired Sydney return.
The Broncos are languishing in 15th place on the ladder, having lost 10 of their past 11 games. Chief executive Paul White has indicated he will stand down, while coach Anthony Seibold is under pressure because of the on-field failures.
With that, the Bulldogs are watching the train wreck closely to see if any of their targets wants out.
With Katoni Staggs reported to be agitating for a release and Pangai Jr calling Nick Politis just days before he was indefinitely suspended for a COVID-19 bubble breach, nothing is certain at the Broncos beyond the end of the year.
Including the future of their coach.
With Seibold in the firing line, a coaching change could also force a roster shake-up. A new coach may want to make changes while players could also have a contract with a get-out clause.
The Bulldogs are already considering making a play for Pangai Jr should the Broncos terminate his deal.
While the Roosters, Storm and Rabbitohs have ruled themselves out of the running, the Bulldogs remain interested pending a “character” check.
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Canterbury have suggested they would conduct their own investigation into Pangai Jr’s character before offering him a deal.
Incoming coach Trent Barrett is understood to be keen on Pangai Jr but only if he can be picked up on a cut-price contract.
Pangai Jr is facing the real possibility of taking a pay cut with his alleged misbehaviour making him a risk.