Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould has admitted his shock at Tevita Pangai Junior’s decision to walk away from rugby league and a $750,000 contract to focus on boxing.
Pangai Junior will play the Bulldogs’ last three games of the season before undergoing a “clean break” from the club and the sport.
Gould shed light on the situation on his Six Tackles with Gus podcast, delving deep into the lead up and when Pangai Junior ultimately announced the news on Tuesday to his teammates.
Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >>>
“They went to the team meeting (on Tuesday). There was a little bit of an honesty session about who did what and Tevita gets up and apologises for his performance the day before, which is not unusual for a player if he’s had a bad day,” Gould said.
“He said, ‘I’m sorry, I’ve had some personal issues, I don’t want to delve into it, but I probably didn’t turn up with the right focus, and I didn’t turn up with the right attitude and it sort of got away from me and I should have done better. In fact, I think this next three weeks will be my last three games and I’m going to give rugby league away.’
“It stunned everyone.”
Gould said he was taken aback by the news, labelling it a “thunderbolt” and “out of the blue”, but did reveal that Pangai Junior had forewarned coach Cameron Ciraldo about his impending decision after the Bulldogs’ loss to the Knights.
Gould also gave an insight into some of the struggles Pangai Junior dealt with this season, believing it could have contributed to the decision.
“He’s a deep thinker, Tevita, and he just suddenly blurted out to the coach ‘I think I’ll give it away…. ‘I think this’ll be my last year, I think I’ll go and find something else to do,’” Gould said.
“Cameron rang me straight after and we just kind of put it down to the performance the day before. It’s not unlike him to take a lot on his own shoulders, there are a number of times he’s said he wishes he was on less money, he wishes he didn’t have all this expectation.
“I think he’s a bit sensitive to media, I think getting picked in the Origin side gave him a pick-up, and then he got dropped. There’s been a whole lot of things.
“He’s quite a sensitive kid. For a big, strong brute of a man he’s quite a sensitive young man.”
After Pangai Junior’s shock revelation to his teammate, Gould says Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton phoned him to confirm the 27-year-old wanted to make a “clean break at the end of the season” and “get on his life in a different sport”.
“I didn’t actually get to speak to Tevita until this morning (Wednesday). He was pretty strong and pretty adamant (about the decision) so we’ll go through the process,” Gould said.
Latrell vs Ponga: Who comes out on top? | 03:43
MORE NRL NEWS
GONE: Tigers abandon five-year plan inside 12 months with Sheens to depart
POWER RANKINGS: Eels on life support; Roosters’ miracle surge, Raiders implode
STATE OF PLAY: Souths’ big call on Origin forwards; Broncos’ halves dilemma
Six Tackles with Gus co-host Matt Thompson asked if Pangai Junior had changed his mind after a “night’s sleep.”
“No, he hasn’t changed. It’s going to happen,” Gould replied.
Gould also lambasted the “conspiracy theorists” that believe Pangai Junior was forced out from the Bulldogs, suggesting they “jump in a lake”.
”I saw a suggestion that the club has given him an ultimatum that he has to play rugby league or be a fighter,” Thompson put to Gould.
“Absolute rubbish, absolute lies. It never happened that way whatsoever. No way in the world did that happen,” Gould responded.
“Nor has he discussed or wanted any settlement for next year’s contract, he’s virtually walked away from it.
“He said ‘my family think I’m stupid’ and I said well, everybody raises their eyebrows these days, people just don’t walk away from contracts that lucrative.
“He’s his own man, that’s what his heart wants to do and he’s going to back himself in that sport. Whether he rethinks and comes back to rugby league.. You don’t know with Tevita.”
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
#Tevita #Pangai #Junior #Phil #Gould #CanterburyBankstown #Bulldogs #shock #retirement #rugby #league #news #reaction
