NRL 2020: Tevita Pangai Jr stood down for breaching COVID rules
The Queensland Premier has demanded the NRL act swiftly to deal with “incredibly frustrating” COVID bio-bubble breaches such as Broncos forward Tevita Pangai Junior’s, saying such actions are putting the game and Queenslanders at risk.
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The Queensland Premier has described NRL bio-bubble breaches as “incredibly frustrating” after Brisbane Broncos forward Tevita Pangai Junior was stood down for two weeks after brazenly breaching COVID-19 protocols.
Annastacia Palaszczuk said the NRL had to act swiftly when breaches occurred, as each incident put the game and Queenslanders at risk.
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“I’m pretty confident that swift action will be taken,” she said.
“[...] Queenslanders are doing the right thing and this puts at risk all the great work that Queenslanders have done”.
“Every code here in Queensland has signed up to an industry plan and the players must do the right thing”.
Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young said the breaches were up to the NRL to sort through, as they potentially put the entire season at risk.
“I’m satisfied that management is dealing with this very seriously, I’m nor satisfied that their players understand the seriousness”.
“They (NRL officials) let me know about every single breach and what they’ve done as a result of that breach, and so they’ve put in some very firm penalties and I hope that means it works”.
Angry Broncos officials also warned players the entire NRL competition is at risk after Pangai brazen COVID-19 protocol breach.
Pangai copped withering criticism from former Broncos Ben Ikin and Corey Parker for attending the opening of the bikie-linked Black Canvas barbershop on Saturday when he should have been in strict lockdown after playing Souths in Sydney the night before.
Broncos chief executive Paul White issued a blanket warning to players that such breaches threatened the entire competition, especially after a series of lapses in the past week.
Pangai has been automatically stood down for two weeks — meaning he will miss Brisbane’s next two games against Canberra and the Dragons — and is certain to be fined a five-figure sum by the NRL.
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NRL players have been given special permission to fly between Brisbane and Sydney despite the fact that the Queensland border is closed and there are fears that breaches such as this will threaten those concessions.
“For our game to continue to operate we need total discipline around the game,’’ White told News Corp.
“This type of behaviour is just unacceptable. I am aware of the pain out in the community and how tough everyone is doing it — there will be no sympathy here, and nor should there be.
“The COVID protocols could not have been clearer or more strongly worded because we are at a critical juncture of the competition.
“The Apollo rules allow our game to keep running and we cannot compromise when it comes to sticking to them.
“We simply cannot afford to take our position for granted, and any reckless breach of the COVID rules will be dealt with by the club in line with how important those rules are to protecting both public health and the continuation of our game.”
Queensland police on Saturday conducted a search of a barber shop that belongs to the Mongols bikie organisation and Pangai Jr was among patrons on the premises.
The search did not uncover any illegal activity, nor is Pangai Jr accused of any unlawful actions, but he is in breach of the NRL’s strict COVID guidelines after playing in Sydney 24 hours earlier against the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium.
As a result, Pangai Jr should have been in strict lockdown for the next 14 days along with all other Broncos players.
It is understood Pangai Jr was at the same barber shop event as notorious Gold Coast bikie Harley Barbaro, who was arrested and given a “move-on direction” under Queensland’s consorting laws when police raided the Mount Warren Park business.
Parker is an assistant coach at the Broncos but that did not stop him attacking Pangai.
“I can’t believe it,’’ Parker said on Fox League.
“The code is in danger of not having a game next week because of some of the selfish acts that we have seen from some individuals …’’
“Tevita Pangai cannot play for two weeks in a team which is already struggling for self-belief … he has taken it on himself to say I am more important than the team and I will do what I want.’’
The breach has come at the worst possible time for the out-of-form Broncos with coach Anthony Seibold out of the frontline for the next two weeks after leaving the bubble to attend an urgent family matter after the game against the Rabbitohs on Friday.
That came after Broncos after assistant coach Allan Langer was banned from attending the Souths game for a COVID breach last week attending a birthday party at a Brisbane pub.
Ikin said he was stunned by Pangai’s actions, especially given the massive publicity generated by Wayne Bennett and Paul Vaughan being caught for COVID breaches last week.
“This guy gets back from Sydney on a Friday and breaches protocol on a Saturday,’’ Ikin told Fox League.
“The message from the NRL is clearly not getting through.’’
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The Broncos confirmed Pangai Jr’s breach on Sunday morning.
“Brisbane Broncos player Tevita Pangai Junior has been stood down for 14 days after breaching Project Apollo protocols,” a club statement said.
“The club has been informed that he attended the opening of a barber shop yesterday, in breach of the protocols
“He has been placed on a ‘COVID Hold’ and will undergo testing, while spending 14 days in self-isolation as the NRL continues to examine details of the breach.
“The Broncos are investigating the circumstances around the matter to determine what further action may be taken.”
COVID CHAOS
Tevita Pangai Junior
Brisbane Broncos
August 8: Faces a fine and has been placed into a 14-day Covid hold after he was at a bikie barber shop in Brisbane when police raided it on Saturday. He Will miss Brisbane’s next two games against Raiders and Dragons.
Anthony Seibold
Brisbane Broncos
August 8: Voluntarily left the NRL’s biosecurity bubble to attend a personal matter involving his eldest daughter. Will miss Brisbane’s next two games against Raiders and Dragons.
Allan Langer
Brisbane Broncos
August 7: Langer and two others Broncos staff members undergo coronavirus tests after celebrating Langer’s 54th birthday at the Caxton Hotel. The trio is fined $5000 each.
Wayne Bennett
South Sydney Rabbitohs
August 6: Fined $20,000 and put into a 14-day Covid hold after going to lunch with his partner at Leichhardt restaurant Grappa last Wednesday.
Paul Vaughan
St George Illawarra Dragons
August 6: Fined $10,000 and put into a 14-day Covid hold after going to an Illawarra cafe for breakfast last Thursday morning. Vaughan sat out the Dragons’ loss to the Roosters and will miss Friday’s clash with Parramatta. The round 15 clash with Brisbane comes 15 days after he was stood down.
Kalyn Ponga
Newcastle Knights
August 6: Cleared after he was photographed at a Japanese restaurant with teammates waiting to pick up a takeaway order.
Charlie Staines
Penrith Panthers
July 11: The 19-year-old Panther scored four tries on debut against the Sharks, but breached biosecurity rules later that night by having 10 visitors at his home – his parents, his sister, the parents of his partner and four friends. He was admitted to Nepean hospital on Sunday morning at 2.30am, following a recurrence of a lockjaw issue. He missed two games.
Bradman Best
Newcastle Knights
June 21: Inadvertently breaches rules and is put into a seven-day Covid hold after visiting parents’ place for breakfast. He missed the Knights’ clash with the Cowboys.
Aiden Tolman
Canterbury Bulldogs
June 13: A teacher at Tolman’s child’s school, Laguna Street Public, tests positive to coronavirus. Tolman is stood down for two games and forced to undergo three COVID tests before he is allowed to return
Benji Marshall
Wests Tigers
June 10: Separated from his teammates for 24 hours after caught on camera greeting Seven reporter Michelle Bishop with a friendly kiss on the cheek. Both test negative to coronavirus.
Originally published as NRL 2020: Tevita Pangai Jr stood down for breaching COVID rules