The South Sydney Rabbitohs have made a play for Tongan international Tevita Pantai Junior, who remains unsigned for the 2019 season.

Pangai Jnr has been vocal about wanting to remain in Brisbane under the tutelage or head coach Wayne Bennett, but the recent revelation that 2019 will be Bennett’s final year in Red Hill has the hulking forward in two minds.

Bennett recruited Pangai Jnr from Canberra after Raiders’ coach Ricky Stuart told him he wouldn’t make it in the NRL, and turned the youngster into one of rugby league’s most explosive forwards.

Blessed with size, speed and skill, the Tongan international would be a walk-up start to any outfit in the NRL, and South Sydney have identified the utility forward as a potential replacement for Angus Crichton.

The Bunnies are reportedly so keen on Pangai Jnr, they’ve unleashed their secret weapon in their pursuit of his signature - Russell Crowe.

Crowe, who owns 37.5% of the Rabbitohs, stepped in to help Souths recruit Greg Inglis and the Burgess boys, along with a host of others over the years, and has supposedly had 'a few chats' with Pangai Jnr in recent weeks.

Pangai Jnr has refuted this statement though via social media.

As much as he’d love to stay loyal to Bennett, knowing the coach will only be in Brisbane for 12 more months is certain to give the prop second thoughts.

And the promise of playing alongside rep players like Greg Inglis, Dane Gagai, Adam Reynolds, Damien Cook and the Burgess boys is sure to sway Pangai Jnr, as is the chance to play under the Dally M Coach of the Year, Anthony Seibold.

Brisbane remain the favourites for Pangai Jnr’s signature, with a decision not expected to be made until after Tonga’s historic clash with Australia this weekend.

However, the longer Pangai Jnr takes to make up his mind, the more likely a move to Redfern will become.

South Sydney aren’t the first club to make a play for Tevita Pangai Jnr, with the forward knocking back the Newcastle Knight’s offer last month.

Comments are closed.