Storm CEO Justin Rodski has denied the club will make a play for former Bulldogs star Tevita Pangai Jr, despite interest from coach Craig Bellamy.
Rodski told 2GB Radio that Pangai Jr’s time away from the game to pursue boxing after retiring from rugby league prevents him from being a suitable option for a mid-season signing.
“He hasn’t been playing rugby league and if we’re going to be looking at filling a gap for our list this year we needed someone that would be ready to come in and play straight away,” Rodski said.
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“So I don’t think there’ll be any movement there.”
It was revealed last week that eight months after announcing his retirement from the NRL, Tevita Pangai Junior is set to quit professional boxing to return to the game.
Newscorp reported Pangai Junior has had preliminary talks with Craig Bellamy after his management reached out to the Storm coach.
Pangai Junior’s brother and manager, David, confirmed to News Corp that there has been contact with the Storm.
“Craig Bellamy has indicated he is keen, but there’s been no offer from the Storm,” he said.
“There’s interest, but nothing is signed, so we’ll keep talking with them.”
It’s a dramatic change of heart for Pangai Junior, who walked out on the final year of his contract at the Bulldogs — said to be worth $750,000 — to pursue a professional boxing career last August.
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He was adamant that he was done with the NRL and would not entertain a return… until he joined Queensland Cup side Souths Logan Magpies and had informal talks with Broncos coach Kevin Walters about a mid-season return.
The Broncos, however, have been held back by their salary cap.
Pangai Junior has won two professional fights since leaving the NRL and will step into the ring again later this month.
But he told News Corp that after this next fight he will focus on an NRL return.
“I’m going back full-time to rugby league,” he said.
“I feel like I have a point to prove to myself, there’s unfinished business.
“If I have to go the tough route and start again through the Queensland Cup or reserve grade, I’ll do that.
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“I have spoken to people in the game about my lack of consistency and I want to put that to bed and be a consistent footy player.
“I will try and get back to the NRL somehow — I will go the tough route and start again.”
Speaking on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast, News Corp journalist Phil Rothfield put his support behind the potential deal.
“Wouldn’t he be some addition to that Storm side that are already flying. I don’t know what their cap space is, but I guess they wouldn’t be talking unless there was genuine interest,” he said.
But host Laurie Daley questioned whether Pangai Junior would fit into the Storm’s culture.
“You look at all the blokes they get, they’ve got that work-rate and ability to go effort on effort on effort,” he said.
“Tevita to me doesn’t sort of suit their system, but he’d be a welcome addition because at his best — if Craig can get him to his best — you’re going to get someone that’s a handful.”
Source Agencies
