‘We don’t have any room in our salary cap’: Broncos rule out potential Pangai Junior reunion

Broncos coach Kevin Walters is confident Tevita Pangai Junior will be back in the NRL next year but not at Brisbane as the club prepares to up the ante in the race to re-sign Ezra Mam.

Pangai shocked the rugby league world last week when he announced he was hanging up the boots at the end of the season to take up a career in boxing.

The 27-year-old, who made his State of Origin debut a few months ago, would earn far less money in the ring, which is why there’s a strong theory that he’ll return to rugby league at some point.

Pangai spent six seasons at the Broncos but Walters can’t see a world in which he returns next year given the club recently re-signed Payne Haas on big bucks, while they also need to bump up the contracts of some of their other young stars.

“There wouldn’t be (any interest) because we don’t have any room in our salary cap,” he said.

“We signed Payne Haas a couple of weeks ago and we’ve got Pat Carrigan and all these guys who are our middles.

“We wouldn’t be able to finance Tevita.

“I’m not sure where he’ll end up next year. Boxing might be a good opportunity for him, but I think we’ll find him back in a league jersey, maybe across the bridge somewhere.

“He’s coming back to South East Queensland, so if it won’t be us then it’ll either be at Redcliffe or maybe the Titans would entertain him as well.”

While Pangai isn’t on Brisbane’s radar, the Broncos have made it their top priority to sort out a new deal for five-eighth Ezra Mam, with other clubs able to negotiate with him from November 1.

The attacking ace is reportedly on just $240,000 and could attract three times as much if he hits the open market, with a club like the Raiders looking for a playmaker to replace Jack Wighton.

“I’ve got nothing but respect for the Raiders, but Ezra will be in a maroon jersey for the next few years, not a green one,” said Walters, who played three seasons in Canberra.

“I know he loves playing here. He’s been through our academy system and then into first grade, so the plan is to keep Ezra.

“The plan will be (to get it done) before November 1. We’ll get the season out of the way in October or whenever it finishes, and then we’ll lock down Ezra, I would imagine. The boys upstairs are looking after that.”

Mam is off contract at the end of 2024 but the Broncos can’t look that far ahead, with their current squad two wins away from securing the club’s first minor premiership since 2000 after Penrith’s shock loss to Parramatta.

Brisbane just need to beat the Raiders and the Storm to finish first and likely set up another clash with Melbourne in the first week of the finals.

“Last night’s game doesn’t really affect our season in any way except we need to stay focused on the Broncos,” Walters said.

“Winning the minor premiership is important. It’s not the be all and end all, but it’s really important in a team’s development.”