- Wayne Bennett was not impressed with Tevita Pangai’s return
- Speculation is swirling that prop will return to the Broncos or Dolphins
- Bennett did not rule out going after his former protégé
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Wayne Bennett took a dig at Tevita Pangai Jr as fans wonder if the NRL super coach’s former Broncos protégé could sign with the Dolphins this year.
Pangai Jr famously walked away from the Bulldogs and the NRL in 2023 to pursue a career in boxing, but he has since changed his mind and signed with Souths Logan in Queensland.
While he has been heavily linked with a return to the Brisbane Broncos, others have speculated he may sign with the injury-hit Dolphins instead.
Pangai Jr impressed Magpies coach Karmichael Hunt last weekend, but the same cannot be said for Bennett.
“I watched the game too, I wasn’t as impressed as his coach,” Bennet said News Corp.
Super trainer Wayne Bennett was delighted with his former protégé’s latest performance
Pangai has been linked with a return to the Broncos, but some believe he could end up with the Dolphins
‘I know Tevita very well, I know what he can do. He is a wonderful player and I have a lot of time from him … he can play.’
However, Bennett did not rule out playing for his former protégé.
‘There is a big opportunity, we have a good balance in our cap and we have money in our cap to spend on quality players, so that is what we are trying to achieve.
‘We are looking right now (on the open market).
‘In football you always do what you have to do today and look ahead to what you have to do.
‘We won’t do it (sign a player) unless we have the right player to suit our club.’
It was revealed last month that former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones tried to recruit Pangai for the World Cup last year.
Pangai Jr famously walked away from the Bulldogs and the NRL to pursue a career in boxing
Pangai is keen to continue boxing but has not turned his back either
“That’s right, 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 a chat with Eddie.
‘We had been trying to arrange the meeting for a while but we finally spoke a few days after I announced my retirement from the NRL.
‘Eddie was fantastic. I really enjoyed talking with him.
‘He was quite keen to buy me, he asked me to watch some footage of matches and I mentioned to him that I had played No 8 and liked watching Toutai Kefu and Willie Ofahengaue (ex-Wallabies).
‘I was definitely thinking about going to rugby. There’s the Lions tour and the World Cup coming up. I played rugby union as a kid so I know the game but I had told the Bulldogs I wanted to test myself in boxing and I would stick to my word.’