Pangai Jr’s nightmare spell at Hull KR looks to be coming to an end
Tevita Pangai Jr in action for Hull KR(Image: SW Pix)
Tevita Pangai Jr’s time as a Hull KR player appears to be coming to an end as he prepares to head back down under.
That’s according to reports down under, who claim the prop is chasing another opportunity in the NRL after spending the last two years in the Northern Hemisphere.
Pangai Jr’s time as a Rovers player has been nothing short of disastrous with suspensions and poor fitness ensuring he made just five appearances in red and white.
After linking up with the Robins in May, he made his debut for the club in June, helping KR to win over York Knights. However, on just his third outing for Willie Peters’ side, he was slapped with a six-game ban after being accused of gouging in the loss to Leeds Rhinos.
He returned to the KR side last month a fresher and fitter man, having shed close to 10 kilograms in excess weight.
He received three late contact on passer charges in the loss to Warrington Wolves, though, ruling him out for four more games through suspension and that ban was extended to five after an unsuccessful appeal.
He still has three more games to run on that ban, meaning KR would have to reach the Grand Final for him to be eligible to feature again this season and even then, his selection would be unlikely given his obvious lack of game time.
As such, it seems the short-term deal Pangai Jr signed with Rovers will be allowed to expire without the offer of an extension and according to the Courier Mail, he has his eyes set on a return to the NRL.
The prop certainly knows his way around the competition down under having represented Brisbane Broncos, Penrith Panthers, Canterbury Bulldogs and Dolphins.
The forward probably won’t remember his time in east Hull too fondly but his target when he joined KR was always to do enough to earn a deal down under. Whether he can make it back to the NRL, though remains to be seen.