NSW Blues advisor Greg ‘Brandy’ Alexander has given insight into the selection board’s surprising decision to start Bulldogs enforcer Tevita Pangai Jr. for Game I.
Pangai’s inclusion came as a shock to many due to his inconsistent form since arriving at the Bulldogs and his track record of getting sin-binned and or suspended for multiple games.
The 27-year-old was brought in to replace Blues veteran Jake Trbojevic but presents an almost entirely different play style to the Manly prop.
Speaking on SEN 1170 Breakfast, Alexander admitted it was incredibly hard to find a replacement similar to Trbojevic which forced the selectors to think outside the box for the next starting prop.
“They’re not like for like (Pangai Jr. and Trbojevic), there wasn’t a whole lot of scope to pick someone who plays like Jake,” Alexander told SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“But we thought Tevita, off the back of what he was able to do for Penrith a few years ago in a major semi (final), we just thought Tevita will give us 25 minutes at the start of the game and doesn’t necessarily have to be replacing Jake.
“We’re confident that Tevita can do a job and that’s all he has to do.”
Game III in 2022 was defined by a physical altercation between Queensland’s Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Dane Gagai against the Blues’ Matt Burton.
SEN host James Magnussen questioned Alexander if that incident influenced them to pick an enforcer like Pangai Jr, something that he was quick to dismiss.
“I think we knew it was going to be war up there for the decider (last year), I don’t think that incident played a part in the selection, subconsciously it might’ve with some of the staff members,” Alexander added.
“Origin is tough, you can’t back down and you can’t be stood over, I think through the series that we’ve been involved in there have been occasions where that has happened.
“They’ve got a very good front row, we’re hoping Tevita can shake that up a bit and put them on the back foot in the opening 20 (minutes).”
Pangai Jr. has been named to start alongside former Broncos’ teammate Payne Haas next Wednesday as State of Origin heads to Adelaide for Game I.