BRONCOS’ SIGH OF RELIEF AS PANGAI S TAYS
TEVITA Pangai Jr says he will stay loyal to Brisbane with or without super coach Wayne Bennett as he prepares to ink a new deal in a massive retention coup for the Broncos.
Speaking to NewsCorp while holidaying in America, the code’s most explosive young forward yesterday uttered the words every Brisbane fan wanted to hear, saying: “I will sign with the Broncos.”
Speculation has surrounded Pangai Jr’s future at the Broncos for the past nine months with the Tongan torpedo playing the entire 2018 campaign without a contract for next season.
There were also fears Pangai Jr could walk out on Brisbane to follow Bennett, with whom he has a close bond after ringing the veteran coach two years ago asking to be mentored at Red Hill. But the Broncos have got their man. Pangai Jr has shunned interest from Newcastle and Canberra and will formally sign a 12- month extension with Brisbane when he returns from his US trip in late November.
While the short- term deal leaves him a free agent at the same time as Bennett – who is unwanted by Brisbane for 2020 – Pangai Jr says the one- year contract is designed to avoid complacency.
“As soon as I get back from America I will sign with the Broncos. Hopefully this ends all the rumours now,” Pangai Jr said. “I just want to sign a one- year deal. “It’s got nothing to do with what’s happened with Wayne leaving the club. I told the club way back in Round 2 after the Cowboys game I only wanted to do a 12- month deal.
“I’m a young guy and want to back myself.”