Pangai spin-fest highlights why Wests Tigers can’t get out of the hole
Michael Chammas
Sports reporter
July 4, 2021 — 7.30pm
So apparently the Wests Tigers did a background check on Tevita Pangai jnr and, despite courting him since February, suddenly just realised on Thursday night that he wasn’t a good fit for the club.
LOL. You couldn’t get better spin out of a day-five deck in Mumbai. Was the background check done before or after they verbally offered his manager a two-and-a-half year deal worth $600,000 last week?
Was it before or after whispers began circulating late on Thursday that Pangai was more interested in joining Trent Barrett and the Bulldogs?
No one would begrudge the Wests Tigers, especially given their recent history in over-paying recruits, for making a business decision not to spend a certain amount of money on a player renowned for his inconsistency.
But to have a senior member of the organisation actively reach out to the media late Thursday night in a bid to save face speaks volumes of the club’s paranoia around a perception in rugby league circles that no one wants to go to the Wests Tigers.
At 10.02pm on Thursday night, after the Melbourne Storm had put the cleaners through the Sydney Roosters, Herald league reporter Christian Nicolussi took to Twitter following a conversation with someone at the club to reveal the Tigers had pulled out of the pursuit.
“Take it as fact,” Nicolussi posted. “Wests Tigers not in for Tevita Pangai Jr. They’ve done their homework and convinced he’s not a good fit for them.”
Had Pangai agreed to the $600,000-a-season deal, one finds it hard to believe this ‘homework’ the Tigers did would have prevented him from joining the club immediately.
Whether Pangai ends up at Canterbury or stays at Brisbane is irrelevant. Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe and coach Michael Maguire have now been left at the altar too many times and are desperate to avoid looking out of their depth.
How many more times can they convince fans that smart business, not a shortcoming in the club's recruitment ability, is the reason for not landing a player?
Perception is reality, and as a result established players at rival teams aren’t in a hurry to jump into bed with the club unless there is no other option.
They’ve recruited well when it comes to young talent - with Daine Laurie, Stefano Utoikamanu and Shawn Blore impressing - but it’s a strategy that has been forced upon them due to the reluctance of the game’s bigger names to link with Maguire at the Tigers.
The only two players they’ve signed for next year, Super League duo Jackson Hastings and Oliver Gildart, are both managed by the same player agent who has become increasingly attached to Maguire, as some at the club have noticed.
Maguire has been at the helm of the Tigers for three years. Some would argue the club has gone backwards during that time.
Sunday’s loss to the Rabbitohs only adds to the pressure on Maguire to keep his job. No doubt someone will use the second-half performance as justification as to why they still believe in the coach and that it’s the players’ fault.
It's unlikely anything will happen in regards to Maguire's future before Tim Sheens arrives later this month to run his eye over the club.
Maguire was brought to the Tigers to instil a resilience and toughness that has been lacking at the club for some years, yet after 16 weeks he has presided over the worst defensive team in the club’s history, conceding more points per game than ever before. Five wins from 16 games is also one of the club's worst starts to a season.
Things are equally grim at the Bulldogs, however the difference between the two clubs is that within a few months of taking the job, Barrett has been able to offer fans some light at the end of the tunnel through his recruitment. Matt Burton, Josh Addo-Carr, Brent Naden and now perhaps Pangai jnr are all heading to Belmore.
All the Tigers have been able to offer is the nostalgia of Sheens' return. It's hard to see the light if you're a Tigers fan. There’s only so long club officials can keep blaming Ivan Cleary.
Have to give the Dogs credit. They still can attract players. Meanwhile, we’re getting excited over Jackson Hastings lol
