Tevita Pangai Junior, a retired front rower, has been observed at Brisbane Broncos training, sparking rumors that he may make a comeback to the NRL.
At the conclusion of the 2023 rugby league season, Pangai Junior chose to give up the game and pursue a boxing career, shocking the rugby league community.
Following his retirement, the forward acknowledged that he had never truly enjoyed rugby league and had completely lost interest towards the conclusion of his career.
“It seems like I was pushed into rugby league as a child. Being Polynesian, my parents pushed me into playing football and league even though I didn’t really want to. Shortly after the initial shocking news, he had told 9 News, “We’re big, we’re solid, and we run into people.”
“I couldn’t live with myself if I went out again the following season because I knew I had fallen short of my expectations as an NRL player.
“I think I have (lost interest in the game), I helped Penrith with their run to a grand final, I’ve played Origin and now I want to try my hand at boxing and if my hearts not in it then (it’s time to quit).”
The unexpected call came the same year when Pangai Junior was granted an unexpected State of Origin debut for the New South Wales Blues, but it was made at the Canterbury Bulldogs following a turbulent time in which the team consistently failed to produce wins.
News Corp. reports that Pangai Junior, who began his playing career with the Broncos, was seen this week at the team’s practice.
Pangai Junior, who is only 27 years old, has plenty of time to return to the NRL if he so wants, and with the lack of available props, many clubs are probably interested in signing him.
Given that they will be missing forwards Thomas Flegler and Keenan Palasia for 2024 and that their current replacements are Fletcher Baker and Jaiyden Hunt, Brisbane may be among them.
Wayne Bennett of the Dolphins had voiced interest in a rugby league comeback last season, while Kevin Walters of the Broncos implied that the team’s salary cap was too high to entertain such an idea.
According to the article, Pangai Junior informed them that he was merely “bringing family and friends to meet Broncos players after practice” and that there would be no reunion because the former forward was getting ready for his upcoming match.
