Pangai not worth $1m, Locky says
BRISBANE recruitment and retention committee member Darren Lockyer believes Tevita Pangai is not a $1 million player amid fears the Roosters could win a bidding war.
On the eve of tomorrow night’s blockbuster at the SCG, club legend Lockyer admits the Broncos cannot afford to break the bank to retain Pangai.
Pangai is off contract at season’s end and Brisbane’s version of Jason Taumalolo will confront a Roosters outfit which tried to lure him to Bondi last year with a $750,000-a-season contract.
The Roosters have not formally approached Pangai but if, as expected, Cooper Cronk retires at season’s end, it will give the premiers the funds to outbid the Broncos.
Asked if Pangai, the most talented prop on the open market, is worth $1 million, Lockyer said: “No, he’s not.
“Tevita is a great talent but the guys on $1 million deals like Cam Smith or (Johnathan) Thurston, they give you an eight or nine out of 10 every week.
“You not only pay for talent but you pay for consistent performance.
“Tevita can turn it on and win you a big game but I don’t think he’s in the $1 million category yet.
“It won’t be easy to keep him. We have to look at our salary cap and see what’s left for him.”