NRL to come down hard on Broncos’ Tevita Pangai for Covid breach

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo is ready to unleash hell on Broncos forward Tevita Pangai over his barbershop visit.

Tevita Pangai Junior attended the opening of a barber shop with bikie links. Picture: Annette Dew

Tevita Pangai Junior’s time on the sidelines could extend beyond his two-week Covid hold as NRL powerbrokers prepare to unleash days of simmering frustration on the Brisbane Broncos forward by hitting him with a suspension as well as a hefty fine.

Pangai spoke to the NRL integrity unit on Monday morning and later met Brisbane chief executive Paul White where he was left in no doubt what the Broncos thought of his decision to attend the opening of a ­barber shop with bikie links over the weekend.

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ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo have little sympathy for him either, having spoken on Monday about the risk his actions — and those of others who have breached biosecurity rules in recent days — present to the game and, as a result, their ­future income.

V’landys warned the actions of the few were putting at risk the ­financial security of the many given the game’s income relied on the competition going ahead.

The competition, in turn, is reliant on the support of government and Pangai’s actions have tested goodwill.

Abdo plans to speak to the Rugby League Players Association in coming days as he looks to use the senior playing group to ­ensure its peers stay on track.

Before then, Pangai will learn his fate as the NRL prepares to hit him with a fine at least the equal of the $20,000 meted out to South Sydney coach Wayne ­Bennett.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, right, with ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys. Picture: Getty Images

There is every chance he will receive a suspension as well, be it from the NRL or potentially from the Broncos.

“We can’t carry on each week having these lapses,” Abdo said. “There is a lot at stake here and it is frustrating that we have a small group of people who are causing a lot of pain.”

V’landys warned there would be financial implications if players and officials didn’t toe the line.

“They are putting at risk not their own income, but the income of a lot of people in the game,” V’landys said. “I can’t stress how important it is that the game sees this year out financial and viable. That is more important to the players than anyone else, and the coaches, because if we play through the year we will be in a very good financial position next year. If we don’t play the whole year, it means we will have to pay future revenues. They are really costing themselves.”

RLPA chief executive Clint Newton was at pains on Monday to point out that the vast majority of players were doing the right thing. He also insisted it was important to find out why players such as Pangai and St George ­Illawarra forward Paul Vaughan had breached the protocols, ­rather than simply hitting them with sanctions.

V’landys said he has sympathy for those who are doing the right thing.

“You have 1 per cent that aren’t,” he said. “That 1 per cent can bring the whole game down. It is all about credibility with government. Other sports follow the lead of our biosecurity measures and if people breach them, it destroys your credibility with government.

“In Queensland we have a ­special exemption that could be withdrawn any day if we do the wrong thing.”

The Queensland Government has been keeping a close eye the NRL and they retain faith in the code’s administration.

“I’m satisfied that management is dealing with this very ­seriously, I’m not satisfied that their players understand the seriousness,” chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young.

“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.”

Even so, there are genuine concerns that players at teams that are out of finals contention may let their guard slip in coming weeks as they see the finish line. V’landys had a warning for them as well.

“My message to them is they have something to play for because there is a competition next year and what salaries they get next year will depend on whether they follow the protocols this year,” he said. “So they will only hurt themselves if they breach the bubble because they don’t think they are in the competition.

“One thing we are proud of here at the NRL — and Andrew and his team have done a wonderful job — is we have been able to pay 80 per cent of the players’ wages, probably one of the highest of any sports.

“They should be grateful for that. This is all for them. It is not for us. It is for them to be able to earn their payments for the next two to three years.”