Despite denials from the Panthers, Bulldogs signing Tevita Pangai Jr could yet be a short-term signing for Penrith to allow James Fisher-Harris to attend the birth of his child.
Speaking on NRL 360, James Hooper revealed the Panthers were considering Pangai Jr a month ago and may revisit the ploy if Fisher-Harris has to spend multiple weeks out of the bubble in quarantine.
“The other interesting thing of this Tevita Pangai Jr situation is that there were reports today that the Panthers might be looking for a short-term deal for Tevita Pangai Jr,” Hooper said on NRL 360.
“So that he could land there and do a little six week cameo leading into the finals. Now the Panthers shot that down, but speaking to people over the course of the day and James Fisher-Harris is due to give birth over the course of the next couple of weeks.
“I think he wants to leave the bubble if he can get the correct exemptions and be there for the birth and then he is going to have to do the next couple of weeks in quarantine.
“I think Penrith were looking at Pangai a couple of weeks or a month ago and it ended up running into a dead end.”
“But that’s the horse trade we are talking about now,” Paul Kent said.
“Yeah and if that is the situation Penrith would be mad if they weren’t reopening some sort of talks with Pangai just to bring him in for depth and cap latitude it is a smart play,” Hooper said.
Earlier in the day the Panthers have responded to a bombshell report that Broncos firebrand Tevita Pangai Jr was set to join them on a short-term deal.
Hours after it was revealed Pangai had inked a three-year deal to join the Bulldogs in 2022 for more than $2 million, reports emerged linking the forward to Penrith for the remainder of this season.
But Nine‘s Danny Weidler revealed that Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher had put a line through the move, declaring such a deal “made no sense” to the title contenders.
“We had a chat with his agent several weeks ago, he is a quality player but it made no sense,” Fletcher said.
“We have an excellent roster.”
Pangai has been on the outer at Brisbane for a while, personally calling Roosters’ owner Nick Politis when the Broncos imploded under Anthony Seibold in 2020.
The Tongan international was told he wasn’t wanted beyond the second season of a three-year deal.
“I’m on contract for this year and next year but yeah they got me in on my day off and told me that I’m free to look elsewhere,” Pangai said after a big loss to the Rabbitohs.
“Players have got to be held accountable for the results that we’ve been tossing up so if that’s me I have to look elsewhere but I’ve just got to take it day by day, week by week and see where my future is.”
The forward has not been in first grade since owing to a suspension.
Earlier Tuesday morning, it was reported Pangai Jr had been offered a lifeline by the Panthers according to multiple Brisbane-based outlets.
Speaking on NRL 360, James Hooper revealed the Panthers were considering Pangai Jr a month ago and may revisit the ploy if Fisher-Harris has to spend multiple weeks out of the bubble in quarantine.
“The other interesting thing of this Tevita Pangai Jr situation is that there were reports today that the Panthers might be looking for a short-term deal for Tevita Pangai Jr,” Hooper said on NRL 360.
“So that he could land there and do a little six week cameo leading into the finals. Now the Panthers shot that down, but speaking to people over the course of the day and James Fisher-Harris is due to give birth over the course of the next couple of weeks.
“I think he wants to leave the bubble if he can get the correct exemptions and be there for the birth and then he is going to have to do the next couple of weeks in quarantine.
“I think Penrith were looking at Pangai a couple of weeks or a month ago and it ended up running into a dead end.”
“But that’s the horse trade we are talking about now,” Paul Kent said.
“Yeah and if that is the situation Penrith would be mad if they weren’t reopening some sort of talks with Pangai just to bring him in for depth and cap latitude it is a smart play,” Hooper said.
Earlier in the day the Panthers have responded to a bombshell report that Broncos firebrand Tevita Pangai Jr was set to join them on a short-term deal.
Hours after it was revealed Pangai had inked a three-year deal to join the Bulldogs in 2022 for more than $2 million, reports emerged linking the forward to Penrith for the remainder of this season.
But Nine‘s Danny Weidler revealed that Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher had put a line through the move, declaring such a deal “made no sense” to the title contenders.
“We had a chat with his agent several weeks ago, he is a quality player but it made no sense,” Fletcher said.
“We have an excellent roster.”
Pangai has been on the outer at Brisbane for a while, personally calling Roosters’ owner Nick Politis when the Broncos imploded under Anthony Seibold in 2020.
The Tongan international was told he wasn’t wanted beyond the second season of a three-year deal.
“I’m on contract for this year and next year but yeah they got me in on my day off and told me that I’m free to look elsewhere,” Pangai said after a big loss to the Rabbitohs.
“Players have got to be held accountable for the results that we’ve been tossing up so if that’s me I have to look elsewhere but I’ve just got to take it day by day, week by week and see where my future is.”
The forward has not been in first grade since owing to a suspension.
Earlier Tuesday morning, it was reported Pangai Jr had been offered a lifeline by the Panthers according to multiple Brisbane-based outlets.