Tevita Pangai Junior has made the shock decision to quit the NRL once again to join a Super League team.
That is according to News Corp, who report the Dolphins forward has agreed to a one-year deal with French club Catalans Dragons.
Pangai Junior announced his retirement from rugby league in August last year to pursue a boxing career.
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At the time he declared in multiple interviews that his decision was final and he would not backflip on it because he wanted to go all-in on boxing.
However in Feburary, the 28-year-old signed with Queensland Cup side Souths Logan Magpies. He was then signed by Wayne Bennett and the Dolphins in June for the remainder of the season.
After rediscovering some of his best form under Bennett this season there was speculation Pangai Junior could follow the veteran coach to the Rabbitohs next year.
However salary cap constraints played a role in that falling over.
Pangai Junior will instead link up with Luke Keary, Elliott Whitehead and Nick Cotric, who have all signed with Catalans for next season.
BRONCOS EYE IN-FORM BULLDOG
The ailing Broncos are considering a raid on reborn Bulldogs playmaker Toby Sexton with the halfback enjoying the best form of his career at Belmore.
The Courier Mail reports Brisbane are planning for life after Adam Reynolds with the premiership-winning halfback expected to hang up the boots at the end of 2025 – the same time Sexton’s current deal with Canterbury ends.
The Bulldogs have won eight of the 10 games Sexton has featured in this season highlighted by his superb showing against Brisbane as he helped guide his side to 41-16 bludgeoning at Suncorp.
Walsh SPRAYS Oates after clutch error | 00:32
Conversely, Reynolds has missed much of the year with knee, hamstring and biceps injuries that have restricted him to just nine appearances this season.
Sexton was touted for big things early after representing the Australian Schoolboys at halfback but hit a stumbling block after he was let go by the Titans last year before starting 2024 in the Bulldogs’ reserve grade team.
Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo handed the 23-year-old an opportunity and he hasn’t looked back with his strong game management and kicking prowess proving pivotal to the Bulldogs’ stunning climb up the ladder to sit fifth as September beckons. And it’s these attributes that has the Broncos believing he could provide solid support to the more instinctual playing style of Brisbane five-eighth Ezra Mam.
Sexton is also facing pressure from talented Bulldogs youngster Mitchell Woods adding further weight to a possible Brisbane recruitment assault.
The Broncos have endured a poor 2024 and will miss the finals in a stunning fall from grace, something a glamour club such as Brisbane simply will not tolerate, which is why it is so important they have a clear succession plan for when Reynolds retires, and Sexton may be their man.
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CANBERRA CLEANOUT? SECOND RAIDER GIVEN PERMISSION TO SPEAK WITH RIVALS
Canberra Raiders dummy-half Danny Levi has reportedly been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs.
Levi is the second Raider in the past week that has requested to enter talks with opposition teams before hitting free agency, with once-fan favourite Corey Horsburgh’s disgruntlement with the Green Machine and coach Ricky Stuart recently coming to light.
Levi is under contract with the Raiders until the end of 2025 but according to The Daily Telegraph, the club will likely let him leave a year early if another team wishes to sign him.
The 28-year-old has played in all 19 games for the Raiders, and impressed early in the season, scoring four tries from the first five games.
However, his play this season has been plagued by inconsistency and his minutes have plummeted of late since being replaced at starting hooker by Tom Starling.
Signing with the Raiders in 2023, Levi played in just four games in his first season in the nation’s capital after suffering a broken jaw.
He’s played in 133 NRL games since debuting for the Knights in 2015.
Source Agencies
