‘They’re why we make all this money’: Pangai cops Blues bashing on the chin
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A younger Tevita Pangai jnr might have thrown a verbal haymaker at Mark Carroll – the Blues legend who was holding the boxing pads for him one week, then declaring him an Origin one-hit wonder the next.
But after beating himself up over a crucial error in NSW’s game one loss, Pangai jnr says he doesn’t take external criticism personally any more, even when it comes from former players he knows at a personal level.
Carroll didn’t miss, nor was he alone, when he described the Bulldogs prop as “one of the guys who play their first game and won’t be selected again” after Pangai’s first Blues outing.
Pangai met every media request put to him in Adelaide and was “filthy on myself” for an ill-timed pass that led to a Queensland four-pointer. He was then among Canterbury’s best in a tight loss to the Roosters on Sunday with a team-high 21 runs and 191 metres as well as the opening try.
He hopes Brad Fittler keeps the faith for game two and could only chuckle at the perspective he now has for criticism worn from Carroll and Broncos great Gorden Tallis, who questioned Pangai’s selection both before and after Origin I.
“One thing I’m not going to do, I’m always going to respect the legends of our game like Spudd [Carroll] and Gordie,” Pangai said on Thursday.
Tevita Pangai jnr spars with Mark Carroll in Origin camp.Credit: NRL Photos/Grant Trouville
“They’ve paved the way for us to be where we are, they’re why we’re making all this money.
“They’ve got to share their opinion and how they feel. I don’t take anything personal. I know Gordie and Spudd personally, and they’ve got to say those things, they’re in the media and that’s what they’re paid for … They’re two great warriors of the game.”
Fittler sent his team back to clubland with his usual instruction to lead from the front after Origin. Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo, in turn, told Pangai he can “hold my head high [because] I belong at that level.”
Pangai is one of several NSW contenders going around in Monday’s Bulldogs-Eels showdown, which will also feature Junior Paulo, Mitchell Moses, Josh Addo-Carr and Matt Burton – ensuring the Blues hold off on confirming their Origin II side until Tuesday morning.
Danny Abdallah spoke to the Bulldogs squad on Thursday morning ahead of the i4Give Cup clash between the two western Sydney rivals, which is played in memory of Abdallah’s four young family members who were killed in a drunk/drugged driver incident three years ago.
Regardless of how he fares at the selection table, Pangai said he is grateful for being given a chance by Fittler.
“Whether I’m in game two or not, I’ll always be thankful to him and Brandy for picking me,” Pangai said.
“I feel like I’ve come back from [Origin] a better player and I can bring that to clubland. We’re struggling at the moment, but it was refreshing to go there and come back with confidence.”
While Parramatta are expected to hand former Cowboy and Warrior Daejarn Asi his club debut in place of the stood-down Dylan Brown, Bulldogs captain Reed Mahoney is still in the frame to play for Canterbury.
Mahoney will meet with an independent neurologist on Friday as he bids for an exemption from the automatic 11-day stand-down after being diagnosed with a concussion suffered against the Roosters.
The star hooker is unable to train with his teammates unless he is cleared by the NRL-appointed specialist, with Kyle Flanagan in line to replace him if he is unavailable.
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