‘Would not shock me’: Conspiracy theory over Tevita Pangai Jr’s sudden NRL retirement

The sudden retirement of Tevita Pangai Jrr came as a shock to the NRL world, however one former great doesn’t think all is as it seems.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 16: Tevita Pangai Junior of the Bulldogs runs with the ball during the round seven NRL match between Parramatta Eels and Canterbury Bulldogs at CommBank Stadium on April 16, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

The sudden retirement of Bulldogs forward Tevita Pangai Junior came as a shock to the NRL world, however one former club great doesn’t think all is as it seems.

Pangai Jr is walking away from his rich $750,000 a year contract to pursue a boxing career, with The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio shedding more light on the matter on NRL 360.

“What I do know is that Tevita Pangai Junior fronted the playing group this morning to break the news,” Riccio said.

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“He believes that not only does he feel as though his game has fallen to a standard of which isn’t acceptable at an NRL level. He also has an ambition to be a boxer.

“As such, he approached the club for a release. It’s my understanding that he approached the club and it has been in the background for sometime as well as discussions about his standards.

Braith Anasta finds it hard to believe that a player would just walk out on $750,000 a year under his own volition.

“This was a curveball that came out of nowhere,” Anasta said on NRL360.

“You think that Tevita Pangai walks into the office on $750,000 next year and he walks an goes you know what I’m done. I’m going to go box for $15,000 a fight.”

Tevita Pangai Jr is quitting the NRL to focus on boxing. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Veteran journalist Paul Crawley agreed with Anasta’s inference, stating “if you believe in that, you believe in the tooth fairy”.

Riccio disagreed, saying it’s completely believable someone like Pangai Junior would be willing to walk away on his own accord.

“This is a bloke who has also been through three managers in the space of two seasons. He walks to the beat of his own drum... He’s a different individual to most footballers,” Riccio said.

“He’s beating to the wrong drum if he’s walked away from this (contract). You don’t just walk away do you,” Anasta responded.

After being a surprise selection for New South Wales in Game 1, Pangai Junior has been extremely underwhelming this season.

For a player who has promised so much potential, Pangai Junior has a tendency to go missing in games and not play up to the level he’s capable of, with just 18 tackle busts on the season attesting to this.

A move to boxing isn’t much of a surprise, considering Pangai Junior boasts a 2-0 record in the sport and his link to ex-league and union star-turned boxer Sonny Bill Williams.

Pangai Jr has won his two boxing fights. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

However, Crawley thinks Pangai Junior will be back in the NRL with a different team.

“I’ll tell you know, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see him play somewhere else in the not so distant future. It makes sense. The guy is 27-year-old, he’s got all the talent in the world, but he hasn’t aimed up,” Crawley said.

“If he can find someone who can get that out of him and unlock it... You know what, he has a relationship with Wayne Bennett going back to when he played at the Broncos

“It would not shock me to see him down the track playing rugby league. I can’t believe he’s walked away from $750,000 a year if he doesn’t have plans outside of, as Braith says, $15,000 a fight.

“That’s not me reading the tea leaves, I haven’t spoken to Bennett today, I know nothing about it. I’ve just been around football long enough to know when 2 and 2 doesn’t equal 4.”

Anasta agreed, also believing Pangai Junior will be back in the NRL.

“I’m going to make the call. I believe he walks away, he gets some sort of payout, has a couple of fights and then he signs for another club next year.

“He comes out he’s refreshed, he wants to play again, he hasn’t achieved what he wants to achieve in the game, he’s got unfinished business.

“I can see it happening.”

Many predict TPJ will be back in the NRL. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Gorden Tallis says that a team would be willing to sign the 27-year-old “for the right price.”

“Someone like Wayne Bennett would throw him the olive bench. There’s got to be a coach, cause coaches coach and they qall believe they are better than the last guy,” Tallis said.

Pangai Junior is expected to play his last game in the Dogs’ Round 27 clash against the Titans.

Riccio says the Bulldogs saw a difference in Pangai Junior as the year progressed, which makes this bombshell a little less surprising.

“They’ve noticed a decline in Tevita Pangai Junior both on and off the field. Not attitude, just ambition and passion,” Riccio said.

Pangai Junior has played in 136 games for three different clubs, including the Broncos, where he started his career.

That stint was shrouded by controversy and he ended up leaving mid-season to go to the Panthers.

“I truly do believe if he was surrounded by a better team, it could unlock the professionalism in him,” Crawley said.

“There are some players aren’t leaders. They are followers, and you’ve seen them... He might need to go to a club that is bigger, stronger than him and say this is what we’re doing,” Tallis opined.

However, Riccio wasn’t so sure.

“I think the candle is burnt out in rugby league. And I think it’ll only take this boxing pursuit for him to realise what he may have had in a rugby league career to at which point it becomes a live option again.”

Originally published as ‘Would not shock me’: Conspiracy theory over Tevita Pangai Jr’s sudden NRL retirement