TONE IT DOWN A BIT
Broncos need hit man playing
THE welcome mat has been put out at Brisbane for returning for-ward Tevita Pangai Jr. but not without a warning from coach Anthony Seibold.
Pangai will slot straight into the back row for the Broncos' NRI. clash tonight against New-castle, having sewed a four-match ban for dangerous contact in their season-opening win over the North Queensland Cowboys.
But Seibold wants Pangai to play smarter. saying it is time the Tongan international repays the club's faith by finding a way to stay on the field while maintain-ing his trademark aggression.
Pangai has been suspended for a total of 12 weeks since the start of 2019 and the Broncos have won only two of their dozen games in that spell without the enforcer.
Asked if Pangai had to change his approach ahead of yet another post-ban return. Seibold said: "It is a balance because you don't want to take away what Iona's strengths are, which is being ag-gressive and having plenty of in-tent on both sides of the footy.
The last two times that Tevita has got himself in trouble it was jug probably a rush of blood on both occasions so he has got to be a little bit smarter there.
We don't want Tevita to change how he plays the game. I like how he plays the game.
"It is about learning and being a lade bit smarter with some of his actions on the field."
Seibold hinted Pangai was keen to make amends against the Knights as the Broncos look to break a three-game losing run.
He started the season really well against the Cowboys but was really disappointed with his ac-tions to get suspended." Seibold said Broncos captain Alex Glenn believes Pangai has learned his lesson.
"I love his aggression. I love what he does out there because he wants to win, but there is a time and place and you have to have that control," Glenn said.
He understood that right away after Round 1. He said to us he doesn't want to miss any more games. "He knows he has to be more controlled out there.
He needs to be out on the field." Returning from a nasty leg gash, Glenn will bolster Bris-bane's forward pack against the Knights.
In a further boost. he con-firmed veteran hooker Issac Luke would make his Broncos debut off the bench to provide welcome support for rookie rake Cory Pabc.
Glenn believes the Broncos will benefit most from some home truths exchanged after last week's tough loss to Manly.
"It started on Friday (the day after their loss to Manly). We basically threw some honesty on the table and the boys took it welt-Glenn said.
"Since then ... everyone is speaking up. Thais what we need from each other- we need a bit of accountability."
Glenn said Luke's presence would certainly help.
Luke. 33. was initially named on an extended bench after arriv-ing on Monday from St George II-lawarra. signing with the Broncos for the rest of 2020.
But Glenn confirmed his for-mer New Zealand teammate would be in the 17. realising a dream first shared nine years ago.
"When I first met him for a Kiwis game in 2011 he told me he always wanted to play for the Brisbane Broncos, so it's a dream come true for him; Glenn said of the veteran of 274 NRL games.