Tevita Pangai Jr. famously walked away from the Bulldogs and the NRL in 2023 to pursue a career in boxing, but that didn’t stop former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones from recruiting him to the rival code.
The controversial prop was released last year by Phil Gould and revealed to News Corp that he was paid $250,000 to terminate his contract after he decided to pursue a career in boxing.
Now, in his first interview since that unexpected departure, Pangai Jr. revealed that Jones made a dive the following day in a bid to have him join Rooster’s young talent Joseph Suaalii in the Wallabies squad for the 2027 World Cup.
“It’s true I talked to Eddie Jones,” Pangai Jr. said.
“Simon Poidevin (Wallabies legend) is a friend of mine, he helped me get a scholarship to Newington College when I was 12 years old and he helped set up an interview with Eddie.
“We had been trying to arrange the meeting for a while, but a few days after I announced my retirement from the NRL, we finally spoke.
Despite being a representative striker with a lucrative contract, Pangai Jr. walking away from the NRL to take up a career in boxing.
Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones tried Pangai Jr. to recruit for the 2027 World Cup as soon as he announced he was leaving the NRL
Pangai Jr revealed he was paid $250,000 when he left the Bulldogs last season
‘Eddy was great. I really enjoyed talking to him.
“He was keen to sign me, he said I should watch some match footage and I told him I had played No 8 and liked watching Toutai Kefu and Willie Ofahengaue (former Wallabies).
‘I’ve definitely thought about going to rugby. The Lions tour and the World Cup are coming up. I played rugby union as a kid so I know the game, but I told the Bulldogs I wanted to test myself in boxing and I wanted to keep my word.”
Although Pangai Jr is committed to boxing, rumors are swirling that he could return to the Brisbane Broncos mid-season after he was spotted training at their Red Hill base earlier this year.
Pangai Jr has not ruled out a return to the Brisbane Broncos as rumors swirl that he will make a mid-season comeback in 2024.
And he did little to refute those suggestions, saying a Brisbane homecoming could be possible.
“I’m committed to boxing but I wouldn’t rule out playing NRL again,” he said.
“I should have a good talk with my wife and my brother, who is leading me.
“I blame my boxing coach for this (Broncos speculation).
“His daughter wanted to meet Reece Walsh and Payne Haas (Broncos stars), so I said, ‘I’ll give you a workout and meet some of the guys.’
“That’s why all these rumors started about me coming back to the Broncos, but it’s not the first time I’ve been to watch the Broncos training.
“Right now I’m concentrating on boxing but I think I can definitely mix it up in the NRL. I’m only 28 and have just reached my peak as a front rower.
“In terms of my abilities, I can still do something in the NRL, but I take boxing seriously and respect the sport.”
Pangai Jr. has already recorded three wins in three bouts in the heavyweight division
The former Bronco raised eyebrows when he showed up for training in Brisbane in early January
Kevin Walters was the Broncos coach when Pangai Jr was forced out, but the former Brisbane pro insists there is no bad blood
Pangai Jr also said there was no bad blood with Broncos coach Kevin Walters, even though he was Brisbane’s mentor when the representative was shopped to Penrith in 2021 after a series of Covid-related breaches.
“Leaving the Broncos was the worst time of my life,” he said.
“I was quite angry that I had to leave Brisbane because I saw the potential that was coming. I knew Adam Reynolds would make a big difference to the team, but with Kevvie there is no problem at all.
“Yes, I spoke to ‘Kevvie’ at the Broncos practice. I always kept in touch with Kevvie, even during my stay in Sydney he messaged me after I had a good match.
“We haven’t had too many serious discussions, but I haven’t closed the door on the NRL.”