Phil Gould blasts 'absolute lies' around Tevita Pangai's decision to quit NRL

Canterbury Bulldogs boss Phil Gould has admitted the club was left in shock after Tevita Pangai Jr. announced he would be walking away from the NRL at season's end. The 27-year-old is embarking on a new career in boxing, with Gould adding that people speculating the club had forced the forward out should 'go jump in a lake'.

The NRL world was stunned when it was revealed Pangai was going to walk away from his NRL contract, which would have seen him earn $750,000 next season before he was up for a new one. Gould believes the Bulldogs star has struggled with the expectations that came with the lucrative contract he signed back in 2021.

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Gould, speaking on his Sx Tackles with Gus podcast, also suggested Pangai's State of Origin selection and subsequent dumping had weighed heavily on him. The star forward revealed his decision to teammates on Tuesday, having informed head coach Cameron Ciraldo the previous evening.

Many have been surprised by the decision, particularly given the Bulldogs have signed several key players for the 2024 season and have been tipped to considerably improve. Gould said Pangai had admitted to being far from his best during the Bulldogs' 42-6 thrashing at the hands of Newcastle last weekend, something he thought may have been the final straw.

“They went to the team meeting (on Tuesday). There was a little bit of an honesty session about who did what and Tevita gets up and apologises for his performance the day before, which is not unusual for a player if he’s had a bad day,” Gould said.

“He said, ‘I’m sorry, I’ve had some personal issues, I don’t want to delve into it, but I probably didn’t turn up with the right focus, and I didn’t turn up with the right attitude and it sort of got away from me and I should have done better. In fact, I think this next three weeks will be my last three games and I’m going to give rugby league away.’ It stunned everyone.”

Phil Gould slams 'rubbish' Tevita Pangai Jr speculation

Gould said it wasn't until Wednesday that he was able to have a conversation with Pangai Jr about his decision, and said a night's sleep hadn't moved the 27-year-old to reconsider. With two professional fights already under his belt, Gould said Pangai was adamant this is the future he desired.

The Bulldogs football manager described Pangai as a sensitive soul, adding that he believed he took to heart the frequent media criticism directed at him. Gould also labelled suggestions the Bulldogs had given Pangai an ultimatum to either continue in rugby league or fight.

“Absolute rubbish, absolute lies. It never happened that way whatsoever. No way in the world did that happen,” Gould responded. “Nor has he discussed or wanted any settlement for next year’s contract, he’s virtually walked away from it.

“He said ‘my family think I’m stupid’ and I said well, everybody raises their eyebrows these days, people just don’t walk away from contracts that lucrative. “He’s his own man, that’s what his heart wants to do and he’s going to back himself in that sport. Whether he rethinks and comes back to rugby league.. You don’t know with Tevita.”

Four-time world boxing champion Jeff Fenech has warned Pangai any lack of hunger or motivation will be brutally exposed in the ring as the former NSW Origin forward prepares for a risky career change. Fenech, who is a member of boxing's International Hall of Fame following a stellar career, applauded Pangai's courage in taking on a new challenge.

But he does have his concerns. "He wouldn’t be doing this if he wasn't going to make money but to walk away from $750,000 a year and think he's going to dominate in boxing…it’s not going to automatically happen," Fenech told Yahoo Sport Australia.

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