'Individual sport': Kevvie's pointed response to Pangai

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters hasn’t ruled out the possibility of handing Tevita Pangai Jr an NRL lifeline later this season.

Pangai sensationally quit rugby league last year to take up boxing full-time, having struggled for form and motivation at the Bulldogs and following a lacklustre State of Origin debut.

But he reappeared this season at Broncos training sessions, before making a quiet return to football with Souths Logan in the Queensland Cup.

On Wednesday the 28-year-old revealed on radio he was interested in pursuing an opportunity with Melbourne if it came up.

The following day, Walters was quizzed as to why Brisbane has not offered Pangai a deal.

“I don’t want to talk about Tevita too much, but we obviously know where he is,” Walters said.

“He’s obviously still got his boxing career happening at the moment, and also our salary cap… we can’t afford him right now. We have to wait for a few more weeks.

“We’ll wait and see, we are always open here for players coming in that can add value to our group.