‘Putting himself before the team’: Dogs star slammed as big blunders seal ‘timebomb’s’ Origin fate

Bulldogs enforcer Tevita Pangai Junior chose the worst possible moment to make to make some very bad decisions.

Tevita Pangai Jr dropped the ball.

Talk about bad timing.

Bulldogs enforcer Tevita Pangai Junior chose the worst possible moment to make a pair of costly errors against the Eels.

Already under pressure to retain his spot in Brad Fittler’s NSW side for Game Two, Pangai Junior twice attempted to make a play on Mitchell Moses only for the Eels halfback to exploit the break in the Bulldogs’ defensive line.

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Both incidents led directly to tries for the Eels at a crucial juncture in the game.

Reports emerged around the same time that Pangai’s performance sealed the 27-year-old’s Origin hopes with Tigers forward Stefano Utoikamanu getting the call-up instead.

Speaking on NRL360, Bulldogs great Braith Anasta said the errors were consistent with the lack of discipline that has plagued Pangai Junior’s career to date.

“He’s always had potential but it’s the same mistakes, the same over-chase, it’s the same putting himself before the team,” Anasta said on Monday night.

“Gus (Gould) spoke to him about all of this and today was a classic going back to where he was a few months ago and where he was the past couple of years.

“It’s a bit of a time bomb and it can cost you the game. The over-chase on Moses was horrible, twice, and the game was over for the Bulldogs.

Tevita Pangai Junior casts a dejected figure.

“He just took it in his own hands to try and change the game but it was the wrong way.”

Maroons legend Gorden Tallis said Pangai Junior was guilty of trying to do too much.

“He gets confused at wanting to make the big plays all the time,” Tallis said.

“Tevita has got to ask himself what does my team need to do now. The team didn’t need him to rush out and put a shot on the No.7

“He’s trying to make a difference but you’ve got to pick your moments and the team has got to come first.”

Tallis then suggested Pangai Junior could do worse than model his game on an understated great.

“I would show him Glenn Lazarus’ tapes. Lazo played the ball 20 times and was arguably the greatest frontrower the game has had,” Tallis said.

“If he plays the ball, don’t worry about the fancy stuff, he could take his game to the next level.”

Another Bulldogs great, Mick Ennis, said Pangai Junior had unfortunately reinforced the reputation he has developed in the NRL.

“The doubt was around moments like what we saw today. Because we know what he’s capable of, he’s big and powerful and robust,” Ennis said on NRL360.

“The Bulldogs had wrestled back momentum after the Eels had scored the opening. Then he overchases on Moses, Gutherson scores. Chases out of marker, Moses pulls him apart and Gutherson scores. In a moment it goes from six-all to 18-6.

While conceding Pangai Junior was hurting himself with ill-discpline, Ennis said he had sympathy for the Bulldogs star.

“If feel for him because at the moment he’s carrying so much of the burden of the Bulldogs pack,” Ennis said.

“Being that enforcer he feels like he’s got to make a difference.

“When he gets that consistency right in his game he’s as damaging as any player in the competition.

“But today he came up with the moments where he overcooked it and it cost his side, it cost his side dearly.”

Originally published as ‘Putting himself before the team’: Dogs star slammed as big blunders seal ‘timebomb’s’ Origin fate