Tevita Pangai Junior retires: Bulldogs star to leave NRL, pursue boxing career

Joshua Mayne

Tevita Pangai Junior retires: Bulldogs star to leave NRL, pursue boxing career image

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have confirmed prop Tevita Pangai Junior will retire from rugby league, with the 27-year-old set to focus on pursuing a career in boxing instead.

Pangai Junior still has one year remaining on his contract with the Bulldogs, which will free up an estimated $750,000 per season in the team's salary cap.

MORE: Phil Gould admits 'no timeframe' for Canterbury success

Why is Tevita Pangai Junior retiring from the NRL?

On Tuesday evening, Canterbury released a statement about the enforcer's decision to walk away from the sport and the final year of his contract.

"Tevita informed the club and teammates of his decision at Belmore Sports Ground today, stating he would like to focus on family and pursue other options," the Bulldogs noted. 

"Tevita will not be commenting on his decision to retire but would like to extend his thanks to the Bulldogs and his fans for all the support he has received.

"The Bulldogs are supportive of his decision and thank him for his service to the Blue and White."

The club's General Manager of Football, Phil Gould, went on record thanking the forward for his service. 

"He has been a valuable member of the team and will remain to be so during these final few rounds," he said.

"We are well aware of his talent as an athlete and are fully supportive of his decision to pursue another sport at the season's end. We wish him and his family all the best for the future.

"Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog."

An NSW Blues player in this year's Origin series, Pangai Junior's rugby league career has included plenty of highs and lows.

He has made 136 appearances over eight seasons, beginning his career with a six-year stint at the Broncos.

A short spell at the Panthers followed before he signed a big money deal with the Bulldogs in 2022.

He missed several games to start this season, but his explosiveness and improved form was enough to see him called up to Origin, where he featured in the opener.

His form has dipped since then though, averaging just 36 minutes per game in his last six appearances.

Will the Bulldogs sign Payne Haas? Salary cap implications of Pangai Junior's retirement

Pangai Junior's departure will free up an estimated $750,000 per season in Canterbury's salary cap.

However, this won't help them procure star prop Payne Haas to the club, with multiple reports stating that he has signed a long-term extension with the Brisbane Broncos.

The Bulldogs had reason to be optimistic about signing Haas, with young half Matt Burton and star winger Josh Addo-Carr already at Belmore, and gun centre Stephen Crichton to arrive in 2024. 

Haas has ultimately decided to remain at Red Hill though, sticking with a Broncos side currently showing signs of being a premiership contender.

What is Tevita Pangai Junior's boxing record? Past fights, results for rugby league star

Pangai Junior isn't heading into the boxing world untested.

The Bulldogs enforcer currently holds a 2-0 record, with both those fights taking place in the heavyweight division.

He made his boxing debut in 2021, securing a second-round stoppage victory over Gerico Cecil.

In 2022 he maintained his undefeated record with a vicious knockout of Jeremiah Tupai-Ui.

Joshua Mayne

Joshua Mayne Photo

Joshua Mayne is a content producer for The Sporting News Australia based in Sydney, Australia. He has previously worked as a newsreader at 2SER and journalist at Ministry of Sport. While Joshua’s main passions are football, rugby league, basketball and F1, he will watch any sport that's on. He is still waiting for Arsenal to win the Premier League again.