‘Point to prove to myself’: Off-contract Tevita Pangai Jnr in talks with Storm officials
Tevita Pangai Jnr is putting his boxing career on the backburner as he aims to prove he can still make an impact in the NRL.
Tevita Pangai Jr is quitting professional boxing and has held talks with Storm coach Craig Bellamy as the former Broncos and Bulldogs enforcer eyes a full-time comeback to the NRL.
This masthead can reveal Pangai Jr’s management has reached out to Melbourne bosses to explore the possibility of the Tongan torpedo joining the Storm for the remainder of this season.
Storm super coach Bellamy has held a preliminary chat with Pangai Jr.
The Storm have not tabled an offer at this stage, but Bellamy is mulling over a lifeline for Pangai Jr as he looks to add some forward firepower in Melbourne’s quest for their first premiership since 2020.
Pangai Jr previously produced a brilliant mid-season cameo at Penrith – he missed their 2021 grand-final win due to injury – and the 114kg powerhouse believes he would thrive under Bellamy’s coaching at Melbourne.
The 28-year-old dropped a bombshell on the Bulldogs last August when he suddenly quit the code to take up professional boxing, also citing family reasons as a factor in his decision to return to Brisbane.
Since departing Belmore, Pangai Jr has won two professional bouts and is plotting his fifth career victory on Saturday week when he faces Kenny Niko (0-3) at the Greek Club in Brisbane.
But after that fight, the enigmatic athlete is hanging up the gloves to show Bellamy – and other potential suitors – that he is serious about succeeding in the NRL.
Pangai Jr’s manager and brother David confirmed he has had dialogue with the Storm and hopes the 2023 NSW Origin debutant can strike a deal to don Melbourne colours in the coming months.
“Yes, we have reached out to the Storm and there’s been some talks,” David Pangai said.
“Craig Bellamy has indicated he is keen, but there’s been no offer from the Storm.
“There’s interest, but nothing is signed, so we’ll keep talking with them.
“Tevita has his next fight on May 11 and then will give up boxing and we’ll move things along faster.
“If he does get this opportunity, he would be unstoppable for the Storm.
“Craig Bellamy gets the best out of his players and under the coaching of Craig, Tevita would go to another level.
“Tevita is focused on his next fight and then when it’s out of the way, I will make contact again with the Storm.”
It is understood the Pangai Jr camp first reached out to the Storm a month ago.
Pangai Jr appeared to be headed for a second coming at the Broncos after the controversial forward had informal talks with Brisbane coach Kevin Walters in February with a view to a mid-season comeback after June.
As a preamble to a mooted Broncos comeback, Pangai Jr turned out for feeder-club Souths Logan in April, but salary-cap constraints have been a factor in Brisbane’s interest cooling.
Pangai Jr was on $750,000 last season when he quit the Bulldogs.
Under the code’s salary cap rules, Pangai Jr would require a nominal valuation if he returned and a pro-rata deal this season could cost an NRL suitor in the vicinity of $150,000-$280,000.
The Broncos last week secured second-rower Jack Gosiewski from the Cowboys, effectively closing the door on a TPJ resurrection at Red Hill.
Pangai Jr amassed 138 games since his NRL debut for the Broncos in 2016. He has also played six Tests for Tonga and made his NSW Origin debut last year, but there is a view Pangai Jr was too inconsistent and wasted his talent in his first stint in rugby league.
Now the blockbusting forward wants a second chance to finish his NRL career on the right note.
“I’m going back full-time to rugby league,” Pangai Jr said.
“I feel like I have a point to prove to myself, there’s unfinished business.
“If I have to go the tough route and start again through the Queensland Cup or reserve grade, I’ll do that.
“I have spoken to people in the game about my lack of consistency and I want to put that to bed and be a consistent footy player.
“I will try and get back to the NRL somehow – I will go the tough route and start again.”
It is understood there is a faction at the Storm that has concerns about signing Pangai Jr because of his chequered history at the Broncos.
But Bellamy has not totally closed the door after speaking to Pangai Jr, with the supercoach having a proven history of turning unknown or underperforming players into outstanding NRL performers.
The Storm are exploring their salary-cap position. They currently have 28 full-time players on their books, leaving two vacancies to fill before the NRL’s June 30 transfer deadline. Pangai Jr could claim one of those slots.
“I’ve had some chats with people at the Storm,” David Pangai said.
“It got to how much they can afford to offer him under the salary cap, that’s as far as we have got.”
Melbourne’s pack has been decimated by the loss of Kenny and Jesse Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi to the Dolphins and Pangai Jr could inject some forward X-factor as the Storm build towards a title assault this season.
Pangai Jr copped a firestorm of criticism for walking out on the Bulldogs and insists his boxing journey was not a publicity stunt.
“I am going back to square one and I will earn my stripes for whatever team is available,” he said.
“I want to earn my jersey and get the respect of the players and staff.”
David Pangai scoffed at suggestions signing a player who was sacked by the Broncos in 2021 would be fraught with danger.
“I know my brother better than anyone and Tevita has matured enormously,” he said.
“All the experiences he has had and this little break he had with boxing, he understood what the NRL did for him.
“Mentally, he is in the best place I have seen him at the moment.
“Whoever gets Tevita will be getting the best version of him.”
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