Tevita Pangai Junior is set to play out the rest of the season with a short term deal at Penrith Panthers before heading to the Bulldogs on 2022.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports the Panthers have made salary cap space to sign the Broncos player or the remainder of the year.
The Herald reported that Penrith originally budgeted on forward-paying the 2022 contracts of their highest paid players before the August cut-off but instead their budget plans to sign Pangai as they push for an NRL title.
Penrith had previously made it clear they wouldn’t be pursuing the Canterbury-bound forward for this season, but the loss of James Fisher-Harris – who will return home for the birth of his child after the weekend – changed their stance.
Fisher-Harris will not be allowed back into the NRL bubble until he has served a 14-day quarantine period in a Queensland hotel. He would be expected to miss rounds 20-22, the Herald reported.
The Herald quoted soureces as saying Pangai jnr has been valued at $120,000 for the remainder of the year, and the NRL will not allow players to move for under market value.
The Sydney Morning Herald and Wide World of Sports previously reported that Pangai Jr will join the Bulldogs on a $2.2 million deal beginning next NRL season.
The 25-year-old will join the long list of names heading to Belmore next season – including Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton and Matthew Dufty – as the Dogs look to accelerate their torturous rebuild.
Pangai Jr had allegedly been told by the Broncos to consider finding another home last month following the club’s abysmal 46-0 loss to South Sydney – news that shattered skipper Alex Glenn at the time.
“That’s a tough pill to swallow, to be honest,” Glenn said.
“I’m not in control of what happens with players going and coming but that’s not something you need to be released mid-game,” he said.
Pangai Jr was expected, at the time, to potentially join Wests Tigers on an immediate transfer.
But coach Kevin Walters shot down rumours of mid-season player moves just days later, claiming talk of player movement would be pushed to one side.
However, in that same report, he claimed Matthew Lodge “[was] not going anywhere”, with Lodge since completing a midseason move to the Warriors.
GregM
Roar Rookie
I'd be pretty p!ssed if i were the one who lost his place in the squad for some blow in. Player busts his hump for the team / club & gets dropped for someone who has showed no committment to the club
GregM
Roar Rookie
just helps the top teams get even stronger, should never be allowed to happen.
mushi
Roar Guru
Most of them are, only upside I could see is if they're looking at a crop of youngsters that aren't going to be commanding big bucks for ~3 years. But yeah, in a vacuum it doesn't look great
Cam
Guest
On the surface, looks a good signing for the right reasons. But I will paint a scenario, let me know if it seems plausible. Ok, Panthers are playing the Storm in the GF and TPJ comes off the bench with 15 minutes to go in the half. Storm are up 6-0. Pangai Jnr wants to make an immediate impact and takes a hit-up in his 20m. He runs a bit high and while being driven backwards, dumps a no-look offload out the back and the ball is scooped up by the Storm. They score 4 plays later. Panthers kick off and TPJ, wanting to rectify his error, goes all-in on a tackle. He gets the contact wrong and is sent to the bin for 10 minutes. The Storm run in another couple of tries against a 12 man Penrith and go to the sheds down 18-0. TPJ doesn't get anymore minutes, effectively reducing their bench to 3. Plausible?
Straz
Guest
As a Broncos supporter, I’ve watched a lot of TPJ. He can be devastating in attack when he simply runs hard. His issue is he has listened too much to Foxtels repetitive bleating about his offloads per match. These may be great for SuperCoach but the reality is many off these offloads are not to any advantage and many are in fact to a disadvantage and create a speed bump for the attack. The other issue is he’s not the hardest worker in defence. If he can be coached to just run hard with the ball and work hard in D for 20 min stints he may be a great buy. Good luck though!!!
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
$2.2 million for TPJ over 3 seasons doesn't sound like a wise investment - overs for mine - as was Nick Cotric at $600K. Guess that's what you have to do when you are down in the cellar. Good for the player - not sure about the club.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Or goes full TPJ and cops an 8 week ban at the end of the year. Dogs gunna be real happy...
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! But we all know TPJ has plenty of talent if his head is right. The Panthers back up forward stocks are solid but without the potential ability of TPJ. Its a roll of the dice the Panthers are taking . Time will tell if the $120k was well invested or not ?
Rellum
Roar Guru
Thats cool, no problem with that. Our right side defence has been much better since he has been out. Seems we are saving on the cap letting them go early as well.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Gotta agree with you DP, regarding all these early contract releases of players and short term contracts to bolster end of season squads. As far as I am concerned the NRL should enforce contracts and Clubs & players should abide by them. In this case of TPJ , I guess the Panthers have rolled the dice for back up for their premiership tilt as the NRL is allowing it ? As matth below indicates, not sure it means the Panthers don't have a lot of confidence in their reserves ? Apart from any upcoming injuries they are already going to be without Fish for 3 weeks due to his wife's child birth & Covid quarantine .But only time will tell if it pans out as a good insurance move or not ? Holding onto Burton has proven to be the right move . At least the Club is trying to keep its bases covered.
mushi
Roar Guru
It's how much they've signed for that will be the issue. Problem will raise it's head in 2-3 years if the dogs are very disciplined with 2023 signings. Worst case is that if these guys cobble together a titansesque 9th or even 8th on out performing for a year and Doggies management goes all in on signings thinking they're in the mix for top 4
matth
Roar Guru
I agree in concept, but frankly I don't see Coates as adding much to the team. 1. He jumps high but has forgotten how to catch. When was the last try he scored from a kick 2. He is very fast in open space, but needs someone to hand it to him. He rarely breaks tackles and is not particularly evasive. 3. He simply cannot stay on his man in defence.
matth
Roar Guru
Doesn't show a lot of confidence in the Panther's back up forward stocks, that they need to pick up a guy who is not making the wooden spooners' top 17.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
If you're theory is correct it will be really interesting to see how TPJ goes with the Panthers if he signs with them for the remainder of 2021 Imagine if he wins a premiership and then goes to the Dogs in 2022 - would be truly bizarre
Adam
Roar Guru
The Panthers better hope the two of them can learn to tackle...(a little flippant I know)
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Good luck with that Albo - seriously. IMO Penrith just became favourites, TPJ is just the guy to swing the pack edge to their favour over Storm. Mind you, I don't like it - this get some gun mercenary from another team for the last few weeks of a comp. It will go bad in the future with teams trading guys who want to win comps to others in the top4 for the end of the season.
Wayne Turner
Guest
The ultimate NRL ring chaser.
MUCK
Roar Rookie
Itll look like a great signing until they are down to 12 men in a Semi final.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
In Dufty's case - the club's a goose and can't make the most of his talent. In TPJ's case, the club can't make the most of his talent and in Vaughan's case, he was a goose...
Joe
Roar Rookie
This is actually a great signing for Penrith and will boost their bench. With fully fit teams I rate the Storm bench over Penrith but with the likes of TPJ to come on and play a 20-30 in impact role along with Spencer Liniu I think really lifts the Panthers that evens it up a lot. I thought they were short on good middle forwards once Leota and JFH get a breatkbut he will fill that gap. He can be brilliant when he wants and if he gets a sniff of a premiership I suspect he will be putting in 100%. Great signing.