Tevita Pangai jnr has promised to keep “tipping red” as he renews hostilities with Sharks big man Royce Hunt, the fellow enforcer who last year invited Pangai to sort out any differences out in the ring.
Pangai made an impressive return from a lengthy injury lay-off in a well-beaten Bulldogs side against Parramatta on Sunday and will lead a depleted pack against Cronulla on Saturday.
In Pangai’s second game in Canterbury colours, he and Hunt clashed spectacularly during a pre-season trial last February, with the Bulldogs forward shredding Hunt’s jersey and trying to land punches on the Sharks prop after a heavy tackle.
Hunt and Pangai shook hands afterwards, before the Cronulla front-rower said he would be willing to take on Canterbury’s $700,000 man with the gloves on.
Pangai’s disciplinary record on and off the field has been a consistent source of criticism for one of the game’s most talented forwards, but he has seemingly been given the green light to push the limits after Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould chipped his “intensity” at Belmore.
“I think I’m better served when I’m actually tipping red,” Pangai said.
“The worst is when I’m out of the game and I just go missing, when I don’t feel like playing. I feel like when I’m tipping red, that’s when I’m on and when it’s controlled like on the weekend I felt effective.
“I know what works for me. I know what I bring to the team. If I’m just lackadaisical and I’m not coming into the game, that’s when fans should be worried.”
Asked about tangling with his one-time Raiders teammate Hunt again, Pangai laughed and pointed to the Samoan international’s recent “weak-gutted dog” sledge at Corey Horsburgh when they too engaged in some argy-bargy.
“I think he’s got to worry about Corey Horsburgh from the Raiders. That was pretty fun and good theatre,” Pangai said.
Royce Hunt and Tevita Pangai Junior grapple in the trial matchCredit: NRL Photos
“I can’t wait for them to go at it again. Royce is a good player, he had a good World Cup campaign. It’ll be good to go up against him. I love competing against good players like him.
“I’m sick of these stat chasers, let’s get at it! We’ve got all these guys chasing 200 metres, trying to be Payne Haas, just leave that for Payne.”
Pangai gave up his own World Cup tour with Tonga to get a full pre-season in ahead of Cameron Ciraldo’s first season in charge, losing 12kg and telling the coach he could show him the door if he fell back into his lazy habits.
Ciraldo put Pangai to work in video sessions while he was out injured, with Gould’s off-season rev-up still ringing in his ears along with counsel from Sonny Bill Williams.
“I’ve been surrounded by strong figures in the game, Sonny’s been on my back about controlling what you can control,” Pangai said. “What Gus was talking about [was] my intent in every training session. Whether that’s a weights session, a prehab or an ordinary field session, ‘take it with intent, don’t just come in going through the motions and cruising around’.
“I’m a senior player, I’m getting older, I’m 27 now so I need to come in with intent and good energy and lead with my actions.
“So I’m going back to what I did at the start of my career – just competing and competing hard on every play and competing in the spirit of the game.”
