Pangai stood down and fined $30,000 biosecurity breach

Tevita Pangai Jr has been stood down and fined $30,000 amid allegations he committed multiple breaches of the biosecurity protocols.

Adam Elliott has told the Bulldogs he will stay with the club

Brisbane forward Tevita Pangai Junior has been stood down indefinitely and fined $30,000 by the NRL for breaching the game’s biosecurity protocols, allegedly on multiple occasions.

Pangai has been issued with a breach notice that details the breaches over a period of time. The notice directs that Pangai Jr be excluded from the Broncos’ bubble and any NRL match day until such time that he can satisfy the NRL he will comply with all biosecurity protocols.

In determining the penalty, acting chief executive Andrew Abdo considered the player’s apparent disregard for the rules.

“We believe this was a case of a player committing multiple contraventions of the protocols and showing a disregard for the league’s rules,’’ he said.

“We will do everything we can to protect our season. Players or officials who show they are unable to comply with the biosecurity protocols will be removed from club bubbles until we are satisfied that they will comply with the protocols. We believe in this case, Tevita has not been able to do that.

“This decision protects the health of our playing squads and most importantly the general community.

“I want to reiterate that the overwhelming majority of players and officials are doing the right thing and we thank them for that. Where there are breaches of protocols we will take immediate action to ensure no risk of infection.”

Tevita Pangai Junior’s future looks to be outside Brisbane. Picture: Annette Dew

Several clubs have already expressed an interest in the barnstorming forward amid speculation that the Broncos are ready to sever ties with him.

The Warriors are leading the charge and could even explore the option of taking Pangai on loan for the remainder of the year. They missed out on the signature of Canterbury forward Adam Elliott on Wednesday after he committed his future to the Bulldogs.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson on Wednesday morning put a firm line through Pangai.

“No, he won’t be at the Roosters,” Robinson said.

“I don’t know what’s going on up there but we’ve worked really hard — as you can see — for the type of player that we want.

“And he’s not going to fit that mould.”

The Warriors remain on the lookout for reinforcements, having made a sizeable bid to sign St George Illawarra forward Jack de Belin for next season.

They struck a significant blow on Wednesday when they announced the signing of Evans.

“Kane is a really important signing for us as he brings the size, leg speed and aggression

that we are looking to add to our pack,” said Warriors recruitment manager

Peter O’Sullivan.

“With Ben Murdoch-Masila coming, the rise of young Eliesa Katoa, Jack Murchie joining us

and now Kane it dramatically changes the dynamics of the squad.

“Kane always played in winning teams during his junior days and he brings that winning

culture with him.

“Through his time at the Roosters and Parramatta he knows what this looks like and this

was an ingredient we were keen to add to our squad.

“He is also a fantastic team man who can galvanise teams with a sense of fun and he

engenders great enthusiasm into a group.”