Pangai’s no to NSW

BRONCOS sensation Tevita Pangai Jr has revealed he defied the wishes of his parents by rejecting NSW in a move that stands to cost him more than $500,000 in State of Origin payments.

Speaking for the first time since pledging his representative allegiance to Tonga, Pangai Jr said his heritage comes before the desire to wear NSW or Australian jumpers.

The Broncos prop was named in NSW’s Emerging Origin squad last December, but Pangai Jr will never wear sky blue after informing coach Brad Fittler his heart lies with Tonga. He stood to pocket a major six-figure sum with a five-or-six year tenure in a Blues jumper.

The financial lure of playing Origin was not lost on Pangai Jr’s family.