The sudden retirement of Bulldogs ahead Tevita Pangai Junior got here as a shock to the NRL world, nevertheless one former membership nice doesn’t assume all is because it appears.
Pangai Junior is strolling away from his wealthy $750,000 a yr contract to pursue a boxing profession, with The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio shedding extra gentle 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 stated.
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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 stated 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.”
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 fully plausible somebody like Pangai Junior can be keen to stroll away on his personal 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 stated.
“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 shock choice for New South Wales in Game 1, Pangai Junior has been extraordinarily underwhelming this season.
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For a participant who has promised a lot potential, Pangai Junior tends to go lacking in video games and never play as much as the extent he’s able to, with simply 18 deal with busts on the season testifying to this.
A transfer to boxing isn’t a lot of a shock, contemplating Pangai Junior boasts a 2-0 report within the sport and his hyperlink to ex league and union star-turned boxer Sonny Bill Williams.
“This is a bloke who has also been through three managers in the space of two managers. He walks to the beat of his own drum… He’s a different individual.
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 stated.
“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, additionally believing Pangai Junior can be again within 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.”
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Gorden Tallis says {that a} crew can be keen to signal 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 stated.
Pangai Junior is anticipated to play his final recreation within the Dogs’ Round 27 conflict in opposition to the Titans.
Riccio says the Bulldogs noticed a distinction in Pangai Junior because the yr progressed, which makes this bombshell rather less shocking.
“They’ve noticed a decline in Tevita Pangai Junior both on and off the field. Not attitude, just ambition and passion,” Riccio stated.
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Pangai Junior has performed in 136 video games for 3 completely different golf equipment, together with the Broncos, the place he began his profession.
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 stated.
“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 certain.
“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.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
