Broncos great Gorden Tallis says star forward Tevita Pangai Jr is not worth the $1 million price tag that he has been labelled as.
The 23-year old is off-contract at the end of the season and an all out bidding war is set to take place for his services.
However, Tallis believes Pangai Jr has not yet proven his value as a six-figure salary commodity.
“That price tag’s too much,” Tallis told Queenslanders Only on Fox League.
“Let’s get real. If Taumalolo is the million-dollar forward, that’s what you gauge it on.
“You don’t pay on potential. If you pay on potential you’re going to get hurt.
“We’re sort of watching it with Nathan Cleary. All this potential. It’s a lot of pressure. If you go there on a million dollars, you’re going to get hammered. It’s as simple as that.
“If you go (to Sydney) and you’re playing and you’re earning your stripes and become a million dollar player … he didn’t want to talk to the media this week after having one (bad) game.
“If you come down and you get a million dollars, there’s territory that goes with being the marquee player.
“(Anthony) Milford gets hammered every week, everyone gets hammered if you’re the marquee player.”
Fellow Broncos legend Darren Lockyer echoed these sentiments, stating Pangai Jr has not yet shown enough consistency to warrant such a mega deal.
“Tevita is a great talent but the guys on $1 million deals like Cam Smith or (Johnathan) Thurston, they give you an eight or nine out of 10 every week,” he told the Courier Mail.
“You not only pay for talent but you pay for consistent performance.
“Tevita can turn it on and win you a big game but I don’t think he’s in the $1 million category yet.
The Sydney Roosters have thrown their hat in the ring for Pangai Jr, and with Cooper Cronk's impending retirement, should have enough salary cap to entice the rising powerhouse.
Ex-Bronco and Rooster Justin Hodges believes Pangai Jr's decision will hinge on both lifestyle and career factors.
“It depends on what he wants to do,” Hodges said.
“If he wants to go to the Roosters for the money, well, he has to go.
“If he wants to play Origin football and he wants to play in big moments, he’s better off staying at Brisbane.
“But if he wants to go to North Bondi and drink the lattes and live a happy life then obviously he’ll go to the Roosters.
“There’s so many wonderfully talented players at the Broncos so there’s no way they’re going to pay a million dollars for a frontrower or backrower.”
Shhhhhhh let uncle buy the dud
That’s a lot of duck sauce duck man
That’s right Bob, Plum Sauce🎯
OH I have to laugh at Hodges contradictive words.
“If he wants to play Origin football and he wants to play in big moments, he’s better off staying at Brisbane.
“But if he wants to go to North Bondi and drink the lattes and live a happy life then obviously he’ll go to the Roosters.
Fisrt of all players that come to the Roosters play for their country or play Origin and play semi final footy and play in Grand Finals. Hodges is trying to keep Junior away from the Roosters who in reality are not super keen on him anyway.
But lets look at what Hodges did to Brisbane. He signed up as a rookie to the Roosters had the happiest of days of his 3 years as far as footy statistics have it. Played 3 years with the Roosters, Won a Premiership, Won a Minor Premiership, Won a World Club Challenge, Played in 3 Grand Finals in a row, Played Origin debuting for Qld as a Rooster. Then he walked out after signing another 3 year renewal contract.
Went Home to Qld because he was a sook, where he played in two grand finals winning 1 over 11 seasons and NO Minor Premierships NO World Clun Challenge Cups
What he achieved in 11 seasons at the Bronco’s was less than what he achieved in 3 years at the Roosters.
Hodges Your lies won’t convince a player to stay at the Brisbane club. I think he will leave Brisbane and if he wants success like consistent rep honours and premiership potential teams he will come to are clubs like the Roosters or the Storm, etc. But if he wants money then clubs like soufffs or Newcastle might be foolish enough to pay a rookie 1 million bucks but if he stays at Brisbane then he will never win a premiership. Their Golden Run ended in 2006, 13 seasons ago and now this club are so desperate they are importing NSW players like Lodge, Pangai Junior, Roberts, Bird, etc. and still cant buy themselves a comp.
Cant stand tallis, but shes right in this case.
Bondi beach is a cesspool of raw sewerage unlike souths beloved maroubra beach with its crystal clear ocean views…