Bulldogs star Tevita Pangai Jr to quit NRL to pursue boxing career

Bulldogs star and State of Origin representative Tevita Pangai Junior has shocked the game by announcing he will walk away from the NRL at just 27.

Canterbury prop Tevita Pangai Jr is to retire from the NRL to take up boxing at the end of the season.

The 27-year-old who made his State of Origin debut for NSW this year, has a season remaining on his contract at the Bulldogs, with the move freeing up $750,000 in Canterbury’s salary cap.

It is understood the Bulldogs will pay around $250,000 of Pangai Jr’s wage to clear him from their salary cap.

This masthead can reveal, the Bulldogs round 27 clash against the Titans on the Gold Coast will be his last game before he shifts to boxing fulltime.

He texted his team mates with the news on Tuesday afternoon.

There has been drama behind the scenes at Belmore in recent weeks regarding his future.

This masthead understands the Bulldogs gave the front-rower an ultimatum – he either plays league or fights. That he couldn’t do both.

Tevita Pangai Junior playing for the Bulldogs. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty

Tevita Pangai Junior KOs Jeremiah Tupai-ui. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty

Pangai Jr has a close affiliation with former Bulldog-turned-boxer Sonny Bill Williams, and featured on the undercard of his clash with Mark Hunt in November last year.

Pangai jr knocked out Jeremiah Tupai-ui in the second round of what was just his second career fight and it came after he opted to miss the Rugby League World Cup with Tonga in the UK to remain in Australia to work on his fitness.

The Bulldogs were Pangai Jr’s third NRL club in his eight-year career. He debuted for Brisbane in 2016 but was released midway through the 2021 season, before playing six games for Penrith and then moving to Belmore.

He was picked for the opening State of Origin game this year but sacked after the loss in Adelaide.

Pangai Jr has appeared in 15 NRL games for the Bulldogs this year but has been way down on his form that made him one of the highest-paid props in the game.

A calf injury kept him out until round 7, but his performances in those six weeks earned him an Origin call-up.

Payne Haas and Tevita Pangai Jnr during NSW Blues camp. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

However, after averaging 44 minutes per game at prop in his first nine games, his playing time has dramatically declined.

Pangai Jr has averaged just 36 minutes per game in his last six appearances.

In Canterbury’s 42-6 loss to Newcastle last weekend, Pangai Jr was benched after 14 minutes and didn’t return to the field until the 68th minute.

His departure continues a mass turnover of players at Belmore in the past three years.

The Bulldogs have had 67 contracted players since 2021 when Phil Gould arrived.

This masthead understands there has been internal pressure put on Pangai Jnr to move on, considering his poor form.

Pangai Jr was named on the bench, in jersey No.17, for Sunday’s clash against the Raiders in Canberra, with Max King and new recruit Liam Knight chosen to start ahead of him.

Originally published as Bulldogs star Tevita Pangai Jr to quit NRL to pursue boxing career