Panthers forward ruled out

PENRITH has been dealt a huge blow, with forward Tevita Pangai to miss Sunday’s NRL grand final against South Sydney.

A Penrith official confirmed Pangai would be ruled out with a grade 2 medial knee injury suffered in last Saturday’s preliminary 10-6 win over Melbourne.

Pangai (pictured) was spotted on Monday at Penrith’s base at Twin Waters in the Sunshine Coast sporting a h e a v l y strapped leg and in a knee brace.

On Tuesday afternoon, Panthers chief executive Brian Fletcher said Pangai faced an uphill battle.

“I spoke to the guys last night and Tevita is looking extremely unlikely,” he said.

“If it was a grade 1 injury he would have played, but it could possibly be worse than that. Tevita has been great since joining us, he has fitted in really well and the guys enjoy his company. If I was a betting man, I would say it’s unlikely he will play.”

The injury effectively ends his time at the Panthers before he joins Canterbury for next season. Winger Brian To’o is also in doubt because of an ankle injury.