Pangai not on Broncos radar for return: Walters

Tevita Pangai Jr was once a Brisbane regular but Broncos coach Kevin Walters says he won't be back. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters has ruled out Tevita Pangai Jr returning to the club should he wish to have another crack at the NRL next year.

Pangai will leave Canterbury at the end of the season to take up a boxing career, but there is an expectation in the game that he will seek to return in the near future.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett, who coached Pangai at Brisbane, has already said he would be interested in talking to the 27-year-old should he wish to return to rugby league.

Pangai left the Broncos in 2021, during a period at the club where Walters rejigged his roster to get the balance of his squad right and the personnel in place to challenge for a title.

Brisbane are second on the ladder and have re-signed middle forwards such as Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan long-term. The Broncos are in great shape and Walters said Pangai was not on his radar.

"There wouldn’t be (interested in Pangai) because we don’t have any room in our salary cap," Walters said.

"We signed Payne Haas a couple of weeks ago Pat Carrigan and the (other props) are our middles and we wouldn’t be able to finance Tevita.

"I’m not sure where he will end up next year. Boxing might be a good opportunity for him but I think you will find him back in league somewhere.

"He is coming back to southeast Queensland. It won’t be us but maybe Redcliffe (the Dolphins) or the Titans would entertain him."

Brisbane's priorities on the signing front will be extending their own players. Halves Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds are off-contract at the end of next year, as is hooker Billy Walters.

Coach Walters addressed reports that his own former club Canberra, the Broncos' opponents away on Saturday night, were keen on securing the electrifying Mam. He said CEO Dave Donaghy and recruitment chief Simon Scanlan were on the case to ensure he would not leave.

"Ezra is another one coming off (contract) and we have obviously got plans for him to be here long term," Walters said.

"Simon and Dave are working through that and making sure he does continue on here. I know he loves playing here. He’s been through our academy system and into first grade.

"I’ve got nothing but respect for the Raiders but Ezra will be in a maroon jersey in the next few years, not a green one.

"The plan will be to (re-sign Mam) before November 1. We will get through the season and then lock down Ezra."

Walters said keeping his on-fire spine of Reece Walsh, Reynolds, Mam and Billy Walters together was a priority.

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