SuperCoach 2019 Player in Focus: Will Anthony Seibold unleash TPJ?

Powerhouse forward Tevita Pangai Jnr has long been earmarked as the next NRL SuperCoach great, so will he finally reach his potential under new coach Anthony Seibold?

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Powerhouse forward Tevita Pangai Jnr has long been earmarked as the next NRL SuperCoach great.

The only factor restraining him from reaching elite status has been reduced minutes.

With Wayne Bennett out, and Anthony Seibold in, 2019 could be the year TPJ fulfils his SuperCoach potential.

Bennett is notorious for blooding his young forwards slowly, meaning TPJ averaged just 53 minutes last season.

Player in Focus: Tevita Pangai Jnr

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With his persistent hamstring issues hopefully in the past, and a new coach on deck, TPJ has become the game’s third most owned player.

It’s hard to argue with the masses, the barnstorming New South Welshman is priced at $495,000 based on a 52.9 point average last season.

With increased minutes almost assured, TPJ should increase in value with the obvious upside of becoming a season-long keeper.

In what would be a significant addition to his scoring, Seibold’s attacking brand of football could also allow TPJ to free the arm for greater offloads this season.

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The only downside is Seibold’s declaration that Pangai will be set for a middle role rather than an edge where he played the majority of 2018.

“I coached the Junior Kangaroos side where I played Tevita on the edge but I have got four edge back-rowers there,” Seibold told NRL.com.

“Tevita is a middle [forward] in my eyes. It is about getting our best 17 out on the park and for me, Tevita is a middle player.”

It’s not panic stations for prospective owners, but it is likely to kill off any aspirations of him earning an 80-minute role.

TPJ looks a serious purchase for Round 1. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Seibold shouldn’t hesitate to use TPJ in an extended role, with Sam Burgess averaging 70 minutes in the middle of the park last season.

Fortunately, the move back to the middle of the field shouldn’t impact his SuperCoach output.

Naturally, TPJ accrued greater attacking stats on an edge, however it’s balanced out by larger base stats at lock.

In seven games when starting at prop/lock last season, TPJ averaged 1.16 points per minute in 46.3 minutes per game.

In 10 games when starting in the back-row, he averaged 1.1 points per minute in 55.8 minutes per game.

Pangai is expected to play bigger minutes under new Broncos coach Anthony Seibold. (AAP Image/Jono Searle)

Many forwards reduce their output with extended minutes, however TPJ manages to maintain his workload with increased game time.

In his six games over 60 minutes last season, he averaged 77.6 points in 69.2 minutes.

Verdict

With increased minutes, a healthy body, and a new coach, Pangai is pretty close to a must-have to begin the year. His ability to go large makes him a terrifying player to not own, so jump on early and enjoy the ride. Worst case scenario he maintains a similar average to last year and maintains his value, making him an easy upgrade to a fallen gun. Best case scenario, he’s joined the elite class of SuperCoach greats by season’s end.

Originally published as SuperCoach 2019 Player in Focus: Will Anthony Seibold unleash TPJ?