Brisbane to spend $4 million to keep Matt Lodge and Tevita Pangai Jr
While results on the field are hard to come by, Brisbane are desperate to ensure they are winning off the field, tabling a huge $4 million deal to keep hold of Matt Lodge and Tevita Pangai Jr.
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The Broncos have tabled a monster $4 million package deal to ensure Matt Lodge and Tevita Pangai Jr remain at Red Hill and spearhead Brisbane’s quest for their maiden title under coach Anthony Seibold.
The Sunday Mail can reveal Brisbane have staved off poaching threats from the Warriors and Knights, with Lodge and Pangai Jr on the verge of inking the biggest deals of their careers in a twin coup for the Broncos.
The Broncos plan to announce the retention of Lodge and Pangai Jr in the next fortnight, possibly as early as this week.
Leading player agent Isaac Moses, who manages both Lodge and Pangai Jr, is in the final stages of talks with the Broncos, who have freed up funds following the release of Josh McGuire, Jordan Kahu, James Roberts, Kodi Nikorima and Jaydn Su’A.
The Warriors made an 11th-hour play for Lodge with a massive offer worth $1 million a season, while Pangai Jr is being targeted by his junior club Newcastle.
But the Broncos have won the battle on both fronts.
It is understood the Broncos are discussing a minimum three-year deal with Lodge worth around $700,000 annually. Pangai Jr is also thrashing out a multi-year deal worth around $650,000.
Lodge could earn more money by moving overseas to New Zealand, but there are other significant factors at play.
Apart from being settled with his family in Brisbane — Lodge is currently doing renovations on his house — the prop was recently added to Brisbane’s leadership group and he is a genuine chance of one day captaining the club.
Pangai Jr was linked heavily with the Roosters three months ago, but the explosive forward’s form has fluctuated this season, prompting the reigning premiers to reconsider what they were prepared to pay for the Tongan international.
There was a view Pangai Jr would eventually follow his former Broncos coach Wayne Bennett to South Sydney, but the Rabbitohs cannot afford him under the salary cap.
The imminent retention of Lodge, 24, and Pangai Jr, 23, is a huge boost for a Broncos club that believes the pair are young enough to be the cornerstone of Brisbane’s pack for almost a decade.
Lodge has played 36 games for the Broncos and is knocking on the door of State of Origin for NSW, while Pangai Jr has amassed 66 matches for the club since quitting Canberra to play under Bennett in 2016.
Pangai Jr recently told The Sunday Mail he was happy at the club amid speculation he could leave to reunite with Bennett at Redfern.
“I’m leaving the contract stuff to my manager, but I am loving it in Brisbane,” he said.
“If I was to follow Wayne, I would have gone to Souths this year.
“I actually supported ‘Seibs’ (Brisbane coach Seibold) to come to the Broncos.
“I hope there is still money for me here.”
Originally published as Brisbane to spend $4 million to keep Matt Lodge and Tevita Pangai Jr
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