Tevita Pangai Junior has helped the Dolphins to a crucial victory over South Sydney – and he’s put himself in the shop-front window for rival NRL clubs in the process.
In a see-sawing and high-scoring affair, the Dolphins managed to hold off a fast-finishing Rabbitohs side 36-28 to cement their spot in the top-eight.
Jack Bostock opened the scoring with a brilliant finish in the corner, before a controversial penalty try to Jye Gray got the visitors on the board.
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Pangai and Herbie Farnworth would take advantage of some lazy Souths defence before the break to give the hosts an eight-point buffer.
It was the former NSW Blues enforcer who was the talk of the Nine commentary booth, with Pangai’s rampaging carries terrorising the Rabbitohs.
Tevita Pangai Junior celebrates a try against the Rabbitohs. Getty
“Right from the opening run, you could tell he was on tonight,” Paul Vautin said.
“He has been terrific tonight. Every run he has made, he’s made a difference. He wanted this ball Tevita, he set himself up.”
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After receiving a lifeline at the Dolphins, the enforcer is starting to find his feet at Redcliffe and produced his best performance since returning on Thursday, finishing with 17 runs for 176 metres, four tackle breaks and three offloads.
“Two months ago, his NRL career might have been over and no other club wanted him,” Darren Lockyer said.
“Wayne Bennett did and everyone said he might be the one to get the best out of him.”
Pangai remains off-contract at the end of 2024 and efforts like the one he came up with against the Bunnies won’t hurt his chances of landing a new deal.
“The word enigma could be used to describe him … we all know the talent he has, but he was incredible tonight,” Andrew Johns said after the game.
After half-time, the Dolphins would continue to control the contest, before a nice grubber kick from Isaiya Katoa combined with Kodi Nikorima for a crucial try.
Taane Milne had a golden opportunity for Souths, but bombed a certain try after opting not to pass the ball inside to Jai Arrow in a pure moment of madness.
Back-to-back tries for Sean O’Sullivan and Trai Fuller sealed the result for the Dolphins.
The clash finished six tries apiece, but it was goalkicking that proved to be the difference, with Souths missing four conversions.
“We fought to the very death and we let ourselves down with our goalkicking,” Cody Walker told Nine post-game.
“I haven’t kicked since 2014 in reserve grade and you underestimate how hard it is, especially with pressure on. I have a new-found respect for our goalkickers.”