Pangai's shock claim that NRL 'forced on me'

8 months ago 76

Retiring Bulldogs prima Tevita Pangai Junior has revealed helium didn't turn up wanting to play rugby league, arsenic helium prepares for his adjacent section arsenic a full-time boxer.

The prop shocked the rugby league satellite past week erstwhile helium announced to his teammates that he'd beryllium retiring astatine the extremity of the season and connected Monday revealed the crushed why.

"I knew I dropped beneath my modular arsenic an NRL subordinate and I couldn't unrecorded with myself if I was to spell retired again adjacent season," helium told 9news.

"I deliberation I person (lost involvement successful the game), I helped Penrith with their tally to a expansive final, I've played Origin and present I privation to effort my manus astatine boxing and if my hearts not successful it past (it's clip to quit).

Tevita Pangai Junior of the Bulldogs looks connected during the circular 14 NRL lucifer betwixt Sydney Roosters and Canterbury Bulldogs astatine Central Coast Stadium connected June 04, 2023 successful Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images) (Getty)

"The level of NRL, astatine the apical level, it's excessively hard to be fifty, fifty."

After detailing his caller experiences with rugby league, Pangai Jr went connected to explicate however helium ne'er enjoyed the athletics from the start.

"I consciousness similar rugby league was forced connected maine arsenic a kid. I didn't truly privation to play league oregon footy arsenic a kid, my parents forced maine into it due to the fact that I'm Polynesian and that's what we do. We're big, we're coagulated and we tally into people," helium said.

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"I've ever been a instrumentality of Choc (Anthony Mundine), I ever watched his fights arsenic a kid and I privation to effort my manus astatine an idiosyncratic athletics and I consciousness similar that's what I privation to do.

"Parents trying to unit their kids to play something, possibly fto them prosecute what they privation to pursue."

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The Origin prima went connected to hold that "this is my destiny" portion besides stating his privation that helium "made the telephone earlier".

Since making the decision, Pangai Jr has faced dense disapproval from radical questioning wherefore he'd permission his $750,000 wage oregon whether helium negotiated a payout. His effect for those critics was blunt.

"That conscionable goes to amusement nary 1 really knows who I am," helium said.

"I've near a batch of wealth connected the array erstwhile I've stayed loyal to the Broncos. Even erstwhile I went determination I took a wage cut.

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"I thought I did the close happening by my manager (Cameron Ciraldo) and hopefully him and Gus usage the wealth wisely."

His erstwhile manager Wayne Bennett has besides expressed involvement successful Pangai Jr, stating to News Corp: "I won't sound Tevita Pangai backmost if helium wants to travel to the Dolphins."

The antheral himself explained that's unlikely.

"Nah I'm going to springiness my each successful boxing and spot however acold I tin go," helium said.

Speaking connected Nine's 100% Footy, Bulldogs wide manager Phil Gould said helium wasn't amazed by Pangai Junior's admittance he'd mislaid his passionateness for the sport.

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"Not astatine all," helium said.

"And he's not the archetypal subordinate that I've felt that astir from my clip successful rugby league. There are a batch of players that play this crippled due to the fact that they're bully astatine it but you question whether oregon not it's truly the happening they'd similar to do."

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