Tevita Pangai Jr has ruled out a reunion with Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett and instead declared “I’m ready Kevvie”.
Pangai Jr will almost certainly sign with Kevin Walters’ Broncos before the June 30 deadline, just six months after walking away from his lucrative deal at the Bulldogs.
The 28-year-old left the NRL to pursue his boxing career which continues this Saturday night when Pangai Jr (3-0, 2KO) takes on Raphael Sa’u (1-0-1) in Ipswich.
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TPJ made his NRL debut at Brisbane under Bennett and briefly played for Walters in 2021 before joining the Bulldogs via a six-game stint at the Panthers.
The Origin-experienced prop was linked with the Dolphins on Saturday when Bennett revealed the club has “millions of dollars” left in their salary cap this season.
Pangai Jr – who is playing for Queensland Cup side Souths Logan – then attended the Dolphins’ clash against the Dragons in Redcliffe on Sunday, but he’s since ruled out joining the expansion club.
“I spoke to Wayne on Saturday after his press conference,” Pangai Jr told The Courier Mail.
“He got my number and we had a talk.
“I’ve had a good think about it the last few days.
“Wayne just told me if boxing is what makes me happy, then I should focus on that and rugby league will always be there.
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“I loved playing under Wayne, but to be honest I don’t want to lead anyone on.
“I have a lot of time for a lot of people at the Dolphins. I know guys like Jamayne (Isaako) from the Broncos and I got on well with Wayne, Terry Reader (CEO) and Jeremy Hickmans (Dolphins high-performance chief) when they were at the Broncos, so I have ties with them.
“I would feel comfortable at the Dolphins but my heart is with the Broncos and if I can’t get a start with the Broncos, then I don’t want to waste other people’s time.”
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The Broncos have around $300,000 left in their salary cap this season and club officials have hit the phones recently asking player agents for a list of their available backrowers.
The NRL will value Pangai Jr at around $750,000 – what he was earning at the Bulldogs – because contracts begin in November, by June Brisbane could afford to sign TPJ.
“I feel the Dolphins wouldn’t get the best version of me – the Broncos would – and that’s why I didn’t call Wayne originally because I don’t want to waste his time,” he said.
“A lot of people use other clubs’ interest as leverage in negotiations, but that’s not the way I want to do business.
“I don’t want to be known as a bloke that does that.”
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