Tevita Pangai Jr is like a new man as he prepares to return to Hull KR action
Tevita Pangai Jr of Hull KR warming up before kick-off(Image: SW Pix)
Tevita Pangai Jr has made an incredible transformation to regain the trust of his Hull KR teammates ahead of his return to the side.
The forward was handed a six-game ban by the RFL’s Match Review Panel in June for gouging during the Robins’ clash with Leeds Rhinos. It was a decision that Rovers opted not to appeal at the time, with Pangai Jr taking the punishment on the chin and sitting out for a month and a half.
However, the forward is eligible to return on Thursday night against Catalans Dragons having served his ban and he’ll be returning to the team as a new man.
In his absence Pangai Jr has been working hard on his fitness and it is understood the prop has shed up to 10kg of the excess weight he was carrying when he made his debut for the club.
As such, the leaner Pangai Jr will fancy his chances of being able to make a big impact for the Robins over the final six seasons of the regular season, particularly as he chases a new contract.
“I go by the saying I don’t care what you’ve done, I care about what you do next,” Peters said. “That’s something that I speak to the players about regularly. They don’t mean to make mistakes but it’s what you do next.
“He did something that was silly, he’s owned it, and what he did next was show his teammates that he’s going to be in this and give it a crack. He knew he wasn’t fit enough or in the right condition to be a Hull KR player but now he certainly is.
“I admire what he’s done so far and now the fun starts for him. He has to work his way into that team and show the player that he is because it was only a couple of years ago that he played State of Origin.
“He needed to get fit and I said that in the early days and after he got suspended he needed to earn his teammates’ trust and I think he’s done that with what he’s done off the field. It’s not just what you do on the field, it’s what you do off the field and when you make a mistake, it’s what you do next.
“He made sure that he earned his teammates trust by getting himself as fit as he could.
“The staff have done a great job with him as well and it’s important to acknowledge that. Tevita has done the work but they’ve done it as well. Tyrone has been a very positive influence as well, he’s living him and he’s big on what he eats and that type of stuff.”