Fittler adds Pangai Junior to Origin squad

[Howard Moon]

Tevita Pangai Junior has been invited the NSW Blues’ Sydney camp next month.

NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler has added star Bronco Tevita Pangai Junior to the extended 32-man Origin squad that will attend a camp in Sydney next month.

The 22-year old must now make a call on on which team he will represent next year, the Blues or Tonga.

Fittler sent Pangai Junior the invite with the hope that he would pick NSW, but does not want to put pressure on the gun back-rower.

“For most of them it will be the first time we’ve seen them since after the series,” Fittler told Fox Sport.

“It puts a full stop on finalising the year and getting their feedback from this year’s series and also allows us an opportunity to look ahead for our defence of the shield in 2019.

Pangai Junior has previously said he wants to represent Tonga, but has also expressed a desire to play Origin.

Fittler’s squad features 19 players from the 2018 series-winning side, while adding six new names to the mix.

Pangai Junior is one of six players who have not played Origin before, along with Nick Cotric, Dale Finucane, Cameron Murray, Ryan James, Luke Keary and Jordan McLean.

SEE ALSO: Blues announce 32-man training camp squad
Extended Origin squad:
Jack Bird (Brisbane Broncos)
Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Penrith Panthers)
Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
Josh Addo-Carr (Melbourne Storm)
Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Nick Cotric (Canberra Raiders)
Boyd Cordner (Sydney Roosters)
Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters)
Jack De Belin (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Dale Finucane (Melbourne Storm)
Blake Ferguson (Parramatta Eels)
Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Wade Graham (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
Ryan James (Gold Coast Titans)
Josh Jackson (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters)
David Klemmer (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
James Maloney (Penrith Panthers)
Jordan McLean (North Queensland Cowboys)
Latrell Mitchell (Sydney Roosters)
Cameron Murray (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Tyrone Peachey (Gold Coast Titans)
Mitchell Pearce (Newcastle Knights)
Tevita Pangai Junior (Brisbane Broncos)
Matt Prior (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
James Roberts (Brisbane Broncos)
Tariq Sims (St George Illawarra Dragons)
James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)
Jake Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
Tom Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
Paul Vaughan (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Aaron Woods (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)

https://www.zerotackle.com/fittler-adds-pangai-junior-to-origin-squad-38326/

 

[doggieaaron]

How does jack bird get picked hes been rubbish

 

[CroydonDog]

Why do they need to have a SOO camp in December?

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Why do they need to have a SOO camp in December?

To get on the piss

 

[Howard Moon]

How does jack bird get picked hes been rubbish

not to mention that he never exactly stood out in the games that he did play for NSW. I would have Ramien instead

 

[The Innovator]

Agree re Jack Bird. I would have picked Victor Radley.

 

[The DoggFather]

To get on the piss

Filter is involved so they will be racking up too

 

[Straight18]

Filter is involved so they will be racking up too

What ever it takes to win hahaha, gals peptides werent cutting it.

 

[Malla]

Aaron Woods K

 

[Howard Moon]

Aaron Woods K

sad state of affairs

 

[_G-Dog_]

And thats the first step to get him to the Roosters ...

 

[Howard Moon]

And thats the first step to get him to the Roosters ...

this guy... onto it

 

[B-Train]

Im sick of QLD and NSW trying to claim and poach any available player for Origin. I know they can still represent their country now but it just bastardises the International game.

As if the other few hundred players Origin selectors have to choose from isn't enough?

I hope TPJ turns his back on them like Fifita did. The only way the International game will grow is if it's treated more seriously and we have more tests where nations like Tonga and Samoa get equal pay to Origin and Australian rep players.

 

[Howard Moon]

Im sick of QLD and NSW trying to claim and poach any available player for Origin. I know they can still represent their country now but it just bastardises the International game.

As if the other few hundred players Origin selectors have to choose from isn't enough?

I hope TPJ turns his back on them like Fifita did. The only way the International game will grow is if it's treated more seriously and we have more tests where nations like Tonga and Samoa get equal pay to Origin and Australian rep players.

pshh Fifita just thought he was too good / knew he wasn't going to be picked... but I agree with the other sentiments

 

[COVENS]

Im sick of QLD and NSW trying to claim and poach any available player for Origin. I know they can still represent their country now but it just bastardises the International game.

As if the other few hundred players Origin selectors have to choose from isn't enough?

I hope TPJ turns his back on them like Fifita did. The only way the International game will grow is if it's treated more seriously and we have more tests where nations like Tonga and Samoa get equal pay to Origin and Australian rep players.

The dude was born in Australia. Now if you want to talk about guys like Kaufusi and Ofahengue, both were born in Tonga and schooled in NZ different story - but TPJ is good game.

Same story for Su'a, who is Queenslander via NZ and Samoa

 

[B-Train]

The dude was born in Australia. Now if you want to talk about guys like Kaufusi, Su'a and Ofahengue all who were born in Tonga and schooled in NZ different story - but TPJ is good game.

I know he was and he was brought up around Newcastle from memory. But he's one of Tongas best players and I hope they all keep rejecting Origin and the NZ/Australian test teams so more money and exposure is given to the test arena.

 

[B-Train]

pshh Fifita just thought he was too good / knew he wasn't going to be picked... but I agree with the other sentiments

Fittler was practically begging him in the media though. He would have been picked for sure. I hate him too but he's an absolute game breaker.

 

[Nate DAWG]

The dude was born in Australia. Now if you want to talk about guys like Kaufusi, Su'a and Ofahengue all who were born in Tonga and schooled in NZ different story - but TPJ is good game.

Jayden Su'a is Samoan

 

[COVENS]

Jayden Su'a is Samoan

Oops

 

[Freakzilla]

TPJ has chosen NSW over Tonga! He will be on the NSW bench in 2019.