NEWS TPJ is A-OK

Brisbane's finest, Tevita Pangai Jr has found a mentor and kindred spirit in cross code superstar Sonny Bill Williams, who he met through his training buddy Quade Cooper. Williams contacted Pangai after he was stood down late last season, to offer advice and support. TPJ is in a good place:

"Obviously what I did was wrong last year with breaching protocol. Not only that, it was a good time to self-reflect on my first five years in the NRL and some of the dumb things I did on the field."

"I'm just trying to hang out with good people. I got close to Sonny, Sonny's been helping me a lot off the field. Footy comes naturally to me but the big thing is Monday to Thursday. He's a family man, he had troubles early in his career but he's the perfect example that you can get yourself out of it."

"People can change. That's what the game's built on, second chances, and I'm just thankful for Peter V'landys and the board up here giving me a second chance. It's pretty hard to get me out of Brisbane, I love being in Brisbane, I love the club, I fought hard to stay. I'm thankful to the club – Karl Morris, Anthony Joseph and all those guys, I'm really thankful to them for giving me a second chance."

"I just go out there and make my tackles and be aggressive with the ball. Do all the little things, not going out there and trying to take someone's head off. Do all the little things in defence, stay in the line, all the little things defensive coach Matt Gillett is trying to work with me on. I'm pretty happy there, I've been playing there with the injuries but I like the battles I can have out there with Viliame Kikau, Fifita, that kind of stuff. They're trying to speed up the game but there's nothing better than a couple of heavyweights going at it."

McHunt

 

[Foordy]

I've got to say ... it pisses me off that there is an article on NRL.com giving credit to $BW for turning TPJ's career around rather than giving the credit to the person who deserves it TPJ's assigned mentor Petero Civoniceva

 

[McHunt]

I've got to say ... it pisses me off that there is an article on NRL.com giving credit to $BW for turning TPJ's career around rather than giving the credit to the person who deserves it TPJ's assigned mentor Petero Civoniceva

**** man, you whine about journalists all day like a little bitch. Maybe you should watch the press conference, halfway in here. Listen to what he actually said:

 

[Foordy]

**** man, you whine about journalists all day like a little bitch. Maybe you should watch the press conference, halfway in here. Listen to what he actually said:

and i'll keep fucking complaining about them until the become respectable again. fat fucking chance (at least in this sport).

your hero didn't even write this fucking article

 

[McHunt]

and i'll keep fucking complaining about them until the become respectable again. fat fucking chance (at least in this sport).

your hero didn't even write this fucking article

I know you will. I remember you ranting that covid was clickbait just to sell newspapers. I have a bigger problem with journalists than you but sports writing is just gossip.

 

[Alex Wingnut]

Has always been my fav player since he pulled on a broncos jersey. I thought Riki would challenge him this year for that mantle but he seems to have dropped off of late.

Likewise, when he first started coming off the bench early in his career His power and ball skills caught my eye and has been my favourite player since. I think he's gone to a different level that we'll see for the whole season for the first time since 2018.

 

[Skathen]

The worry I have is that we re-upped flegs for 2023 which is the year we need to re-sign TPJ, he would have been the perfect forward to let go and spend his wage on TPJ, bringing another young one through. We also have Lodge (very likely), Haas, Riki and Piakura on the books for 2023. Only real options to let go to cover his wage would be the likes of Bullemor or Cardigan. I could see either of those blokes playing their careers out at the Broncos - will likely be Bullemor who gets shopped though given Cardigan is our fill-in captain. That is...if Bull is not already on Min Wage.

 

[Sproj]

The worry I have is that we re-upped flegs for 2023 which is the year we need to re-sign TPJ, he would have been the perfect forward to let go and spend his wage on TPJ, bringing another young one through. We also have Lodge (very likely), Haas, Riki and Piakura on the books for 2023. Only real options to let go to cover his wage would be the likes of Bullemor or Cardigan. I could see either of those blokes playing their careers out at the Broncos - will likely be Bullemor who gets shopped though given Cardigan is our fill-in captain. That is...if Bull is not already on Min Wage.

Nah they’d let Flegs go if it came to it, Bullemor is a keeper, you can see he is going to be elite if he keeps his current trajectory.

 

[McHunt]

TPJ wants to be a cockroach:

“I want to play State of Origin. I said a few stupid things in the past around not playing Origin. Having an 18-week off-season, I had plenty of time to reflect on some of the dumb things I’ve said and done and one of those things was changing my mind on playing for NSW a few years ago."

“I wish I listened to my dad at the time. He said not to rush a decision (on representative football) and now I’m hoping Freddy can throw my hat in the ring and I can put my hand up to play Origin for NSW.”

“I’ve spoken to ‘Freddy’ (Fittler) and I’ve apologised to him. I know what Origin is about, it’s about defence and being tough and carrying the ball strongly with minimal errors. If I get those silly defensive lapses out of my game, I’d like to think I can test myself in the toughest arena."

“The difference between me and Jase is that I am born-and-bred in NSW, he was born in New Zealand. I’m a Newcastle junior and I played Origin for NSW in junior rep teams. Jase has already played for New Zealand so I don’t know what the go is there for him. But hopefully with the rules I can put my hand up for Origin and play for Tonga as well.”

Payne Haas:

“I would love to see Tevita in Origin. I love wearing that sky blue jumper and Tevita is a big-game player. If he gets chosen this year, he would go well in that arena. I hope he does get picked because he would be awesome for us.”

McHunt

 

[BooKhaki]

TPJ wants to be a cockroach:

“I want to play State of Origin. I said a few stupid things in the past around not playing Origin. Having an 18-week off-season, I had plenty of time to reflect on some of the dumb things I’ve said and done and one of those things was changing my mind on playing for NSW a few years ago."

“I wish I listened to my dad at the time. He said not to rush a decision (on representative football) and now I’m hoping Freddy can throw my hat in the ring and I can put my hand up to play Origin for NSW.”

“I’ve spoken to ‘Freddy’ (Fittler) and I’ve apologised to him. I know what Origin is about, it’s about defence and being tough and carrying the ball strongly with minimal errors. If I get those silly defensive lapses out of my game, I’d like to think I can test myself in the toughest arena."

“The difference between me and Jase is that I am born-and-bred in NSW, he was born in New Zealand. I’m a Newcastle junior and I played Origin for NSW in junior rep teams. Jase has already played for New Zealand so I don’t know what the go is there for him. But hopefully with the rules I can put my hand up for Origin and play for Tonga as well.”

Payne Haas:

“I would love to see Tevita in Origin. I love wearing that sky blue jumper and Tevita is a big-game player. If he gets chosen this year, he would go well in that arena. I hope he does get picked because he would be awesome for us.”

McHunt

He really is an ideal bench forward for rep teams. He covers both an edge and middle to an elite standard when he is playing well, and he is also the kind of maniac suited to origin.

He could be devastating coming off the pine for the roaches.

 

[McHunt]

He really is an ideal bench forward for rep teams. He covers both an edge and middle to an elite standard when he is playing well, and he is also the kind of maniac suited to origin.

He could be devastating coming off the pine for the roaches.

Let's hope he's not picked. The last thing we need is him being injured or suspended on Origin duty.

 

[BooKhaki]

Let's hope he's not picked. The last thing we need is him being injured or suspended on Origin duty.

Not at all. Origin makes players better. If he doesn't make the 17, hopefully he is in camp.

 

[Financeguy]

Not at all. Origin makes players better. If he doesn't make the 17, hopefully he is in camp.

Agree that this is an underrated benefit, getting experience in a high pressure arena generally makes the player better at their club, especially if it spurs them onto wanting to make the rep team season after season.

It is also beneficial to the club to have current rep players in both corporate/sponsorship negotiations as well as attracting and retaining talent.

 

[Mustafur]

If NSW don't get butthurt about what he did last time he got picked for camp, then they have to pick him he is the best ball playing forward in the competition.

 

[McHunt]

Not at all. Origin makes players better. If he doesn't make the 17, hopefully he is in camp.

Agree that this is an underrated benefit, getting experience in a high pressure arena generally makes the player better at their club, especially if it spurs them onto wanting to make the rep team season after season.

It is also beneficial to the club to have current rep players in both corporate/sponsorship negotiations as well as attracting and retaining talent.

True. Good points. But I still don't want him wiped out. We need him too much.

 

[BooKhaki]

If NSW don't get butthurt about what he did last time he got picked for camp, then they have to pick him he is the best ball playing forward in the competition.

Radley is probably the best ball player. TPJ would be the most talented forward across the park and is twice the size.

 

[Mustafur]

Radley is probably the best ball player. TPJ would be the most talented forward across the park and is twice the size.

Haven't been watching Roosters games last few weeks but is he being used as a Pivot in the centre?, generally that's what you get the ball playing lock to play as, lately with TPJ though he has been the Central playmaker on the right side attack which from a forward is insane.

Pretty much all of our best attacking plays this year had had Tevita's hands all over it, has a lethal long cut out pass he has been using as well.

 

[Foordy]

Let's hope he's not picked. The last thing we need is him being injured or suspended on Origin duty.

the real question is ... will the "plays for NSW" defence cancel out the "plays from Broncos" penalty enhancement