Tevita Pangai Jr meets NRL integrity unit over alleged Broncos salary cap breaches
Tevita Pangai Jr completed an interview with integrity-unit chiefs on Monday afternoon as the NRL steps up inquiries into the Broncos’ salary-cap affairs in the latest saga to rock the club.
NRL
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The NRL integrity unit has interviewed star forward Tevita Pangai Jr about possible salary-cap breaches by the Broncos over a series of alleged third-party deals and other arrangements totalling $100,000.
News Corp can reveal Pangai Jr completed an interview with integrity-unit chiefs on Monday afternoon as the NRL steps up inquiries into the Broncos’ salary-cap affairs in the latest crisis to rock the club.
The NRL is in the preliminary stage of salary-cap inquiries and has not launched an official investigation at this stage, but Pangai Jr’s formal interview will ring alarm bells for Broncos bosses.
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As part of inquiries, NRL investigators are looking at the Broncos’ association with the code’s No.1 player agent Isaac Moses, who had his accreditation cancelled by the governing body in June.
Moses, who is appealing the decision, represents nine individuals at the Broncos, including Pangai Jr and coach Anthony Seibold, who has been offered a $1 million-plus payout to leave the club immediately.
Moses also manages the affairs of some of the Broncos’ biggest names, including skipper Alex Glenn, prop Matt Lodge and strike centre Kotoni Staggs.
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The NRL are starting with Pangai Jr, who agreed to an interview yesterday just a fortnight after being fined $30,000 and stood down from playing duties following his bikie barber-shop COVID breaches.
It is understood NRL integrity-unit chiefs questioned Pangai Jr about claims high-ranking Broncos officials guaranteed three third-party deals, outside the salary cap, to top-up his current three-year deal.
Pangai Jr is on $675,000 this season and is upset with the club over an additional amount he believes he was promised by Broncos officials that has not been paid.
There is no suggestion at this stage the Broncos or any players are guilty of any salary-cap wrongdoing as the NRL collates information.
Under the code’s salary-cap rules, NRL clubs can only guarantee third-party agreements if they are included in the salary cap. Clubs must submit all proposed TPAs to the governing body’s salary-cap unit for registration.
The preliminary probe is exploring whether Pangai Jr’s third-party deals were registered with the NRL by the Broncos.
Pangai Jr complied fully with the NRL integrity-unit probe as he looks to return to rugby league for the final three rounds of the season.
The NRL and Broncos have declined to comment on the matter at this stage.
Originally published as Tevita Pangai Jr meets NRL integrity unit over alleged Broncos salary cap breaches