Bulldogs recruit Tevita Pangai Jr has officially ‘lost the plot’

Bulldogs recruit Tevita Pangai Jr was put on report and sin-binned following an unwarranted blow-up against the Cronulla Sharks.

Royce Hunt of the Sharks and Tevita Pangai Junior of the Bulldogs tussle. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

New club, same old Tevita Pangai Jr.

The Canterbury Bulldogs recruit was put on report and sin-binned following an unwarranted blow-up during Monday evening’s trial match against the Cronulla Sharks at PointsBet Stadium.

Late in the first half of Cronulla’s comprehensive 30-6 victory, Pangai Jr put a heavy hit on Sharks prop Royce Hunt before pulling frantically on his rival’s jersey.

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After a couple of teammates joined the tussle, the 26-year-old second-rower appeared to throw a closed fist several times towards Hunt’s head.

“He wanted a piece of that from the word go because he took the hand-break off and just launched at Royce Hunt. And he didn’t stop there, he ripped the shirt off the big fella. I liked the intent … but then just carried on,” two-time Dally M Player of the Year Cooper Cronk said on Fox League.

“He didn’t have to do that. He did a really good thing by having line speed and being physical, but the carry on afterwards hurt his team.”

Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane continued: “That just bubbled up out of nothing.

“You take the good with the bad with Pangai Jr. You get the big hits and the big runs and offloads but sometimes he can go a little haywire.”

Match referee Peter Gough put Pangai Jr on report for striking and sent him off for a 10-minute spell on the sidelines.

To rub salt into the wounds, Hunt scored Cronulla’s third try of the evening moments after the Bulldogs debutant retired to the bench.

Tevita Pangai Jr sent to the bin for the first time as a Bulldog for a high forearm on Royce Hunt while making a tackle.

He’s got a head of steam up tonight.

Hunt then scores a 🥧 in the next set. Baz won’t be happy with that two minute stretch. #NRLTrialspic.twitter.com/P5N20WT89T

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) February 28, 2022

Watching my @NRL_Bulldogs game against Sharks on delay. A tip for Pangai jnr. If the ref bins you just get off the field. He's lucky the mic or officials didn't pick up what he called the ref on his way off ! #NRL yeah I can lip read quite well ! #NRLSharksBulldogs@FOXNRL

— Bernie Coen (@berniecoen) February 28, 2022

Earlier in the trial fixture, Pangai Jr had been reported for a high shot on Sharks winger Sione Katoa, who was lying on the ground.

Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett will be sweating on the availability of his star recruit, whose fate will be decided by the NRL Judiciary this week. But regardless of the outcome, Pangai Jr’s lack of discipline remains cause for concern.

“Pangai Jr lost the plot in that first half,” former Sydney Roosters star Braith Anasta said at halftime.

“What was he thinking?

“He has got to add more value to the team. It could prove costly. He could be suspended.”

Former Penrith Panthers captain Greg Alexander continued: “We spoke about him pre-game and said if he can focus on what needs to be done on the field and what is important.

“If he didn’t make contact with the head he went within a whisker.

“He wasn’t on a mission to run hard and tackle hard. He was on a mission to get sent off.

“He will come that close to being suspended. He was fortunate the elbow and the two punches did not make contact with Royce Hunt, but he was trying hard.

“What is he thinking?”

Tevita Pangai Jr of the Bulldogs. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

After making his NRL debut in 2016, Pangai Jr represented the Brisbane Broncos for 96 first grade games before he was let go by the club last year.

Former New South Wales representative Michael Ennis said: “It is crazy to think about.

“We heard Trent Barrett talk about that he can’t wait to see Pangai Jr play.

“All those little areas the Bulldogs wanted Pangai to be good at tonight he has been completely the opposite.

“He has been distracted in defence. Defensively he has really struggled on the edge.

“He is a big man and Nicho Hynes and Birton Nikora have troubled him and Matt Burton at times.

“Like when he was at Brisbane he tries to play this enforcer role and he just crosses the line.

“When he was at Penrith he got it right. His job was simple and clear. In the limited time he got he did his job well.

“Now he has gone to the Bulldogs and in the first few games he has got himself in awful trouble here.”

Five-eighth Matt Burton was Canterbury’s only tryscorer in the 24-point loss in Cronulla. The Bulldogs will face the North Queensland Cowboys in round one of the 2022 NRL Premiership at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Sunday, March 13.

Originally published as Bulldogs recruit Tevita Pangai Jr has officially ‘lost the plot’