{"id":404113,"date":"2024-06-18T11:38:58","date_gmt":"2024-06-18T11:38:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=404113"},"modified":"2024-06-18T13:06:42","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T13:06:42","slug":"pangai-reveals-boxing-secret-in-defence-of-past-actions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=404113","title":{"rendered":"Pangai reveals boxing 'secret' in defence of past actions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tevita Pangai Junior<\/a> has opened up on his controversial comments as he pursued a boxing career, declaring \ufeff"don't believe all that stuff they're saying in the media".<\/p>\n

The former State of Origin forward will make his long awaited return to the NRL with the Dolphins on Friday against the Storm, with coach Wayne Bennett<\/a> picking him on the bench.<\/p>\n

It's a remarkable turnaround for Pangai having retired last year with the Bulldogs<\/a> and stating \ufeffhis parents forced rugby league on him.<\/p>\n

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"I feel like rugby league was forced on me as a kid. I didn't really want to play league or footy as a kid, my parents forced me into it because I'm Polynesian and that's what we do. We're big, we're solid and we run into people," he told 9news Sydney last year.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

"I've always been a fan of Choc (Anthony Mundine), I always watched his fights as a kid and I want to try my hand at an individual sport and I feel like that's what I want to do.<\/p>\n

"Parents trying to force their kids to play something, maybe let them pursue what they want to pursue."<\/p>\n

\"TPJ<\/p>\n

However, speaking ahead of his Dolphins debut, Pangai admitted he made those comments to bring interest to his boxing career.<\/p>\n

"Anyone who truly knows me, I love footy, I watch a lot of games on the weekend," he told media.<\/p>\n

"As you know \ufeffin boxing, it's a show business and you do what you want to sell tickets and rugby league's the number one sport in Australia and I just thought if I can get some fans across and be controversial … that's how they make their money, it's a struggling sport at the moment but hopefully I can use my platform to showcase some of the younger talent in the boxing arena."<\/p>\n

The comments around his love of rugby league weren't the only controversial ones he made.<\/p>\n

\ufeffAhead of the Battle on the Reef in October last year<\/a>, Pangai declared: "I'm sick of taking orders off halfbacks and coaches."<\/p>\n

\"Pangai<\/p>\n

The forward revealed having front-rowers like Junior Paulo, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Reagan Campbell-Gillard sitting next to him was the reason he said that. \ufeff<\/p>\n

"We were all front-rowers, we get blamed for everything, they kick the ball dead, it's our fault," he joked.<\/p>\n

"It was a bit of banter and we've got to sell tickets, our salary's set as a rugby league player but as a boxer you've got to bring in revenue.<\/p>\n

"The two best to do it were obviously controversial, (Anthony) Mundine and Gal (Paul Gallen). Obviously hate sells better. You know, you're in the media."<\/p>\n

For Pangai, a comeback to rugby league has been brewing ever since he returned to Queensland.<\/p>\n

\"Legends<\/p>\n

He was spotted at Broncos training at one stage and was a guest of the Dolphins at a game<\/a>. \ufeff<\/p>\n

The forward had been plying his trade for Souths Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup during the year and in his first game received praise from coach Karmichael Hunt.<\/p>\n

However, Bennett wasn't impressed at the time.<\/p>\n

"I saw the game as well, I wasn't as impressed as his coach," Bennett said.<\/p>\n

"I know Tevita very well, I know what he can do. He is a wonderful player and I've got a lot of time from him … he can play."<\/p>\n

Pangai believes Bennett was challenging him.\ufeff<\/p>\n

"\ufeffI think it was more just where my heart was at," he said.<\/p>\n

"Obviously I took some time away from the game, did some boxing and that was very fun but Wayne just wanted to make sure I was 100 per cent committed to playing under him and playing with the Dolphins. I can only show that with my performances."<\/p>\n

\"Dolphins<\/p>\n

With Bennett leaving for the Rabbitohs next year, Pangai was coy when asked if he'd like to follow the legendary coach. \ufeff<\/p>\n

"I'd like to stay in Queensland a lot longer, see what happens.<\/p>\n

"I'm just very fortunate for the opportunity I've got under Wayne and the club.<\/p>\n

"… Like the great Billy Slater says I'm just worried about where my feet are at the moment \ufeffso I'll just worry about today … when I look too far ahead that's when I've run into a lot of dramas so I'm just worried about the Storm this week and we'll see how we go after that. Obviously I play my best footy under Wayne, we'll see what happens."<\/p>\n

Stream the NRL premiership 2023 live and free on<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

"… I can't say right now, I'm just happy to be back under Wayne and if it's only for three months I'll enjoy it as much as I can."<\/p>\n

As for Pangai's motivation to return, the 28-year-old put it down to the coach and once again moved to quash his previous comments about falling out of love with the game. \ufeff<\/p>\n

"\ufeffI said those things just to sell tickets so now you know, I told you the secret, don't believe all that stuff they're saying in the media," he laughed.<\/p>\n

As for what Bennett will be doing to get the best out of his new signing?<\/p>\n

"Keep my job simple, I'm a footballer so I don't need many instructions, just tell me you love me and that's it, I'll play my best footy for you mate."<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tevita Pangai Junior has opened up on his controversial comments as he pursued a boxing career, declaring \ufeff"don't believe all that stuff they're saying in […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":404117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/404113"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=404113"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/404113\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":404124,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/404113\/revisions\/404124"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/404117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=404113"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=404113"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=404113"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}