Dolphins prop Tevita Pangai Junior returns to play former club Penrith with fond memories of a cameo stint in 2021 that rejuvenated his career.
The 28-year-old, who was man of the match in the 36-28 win over South Sydney last week, got a release from Brisbane where he was struggling in 2021 to join the Panthers on a three-month deal.
He played six powerhouse games before missing the grand final win with a knee injury. Along the way, he repaid the faith of coach Ivan Cleary and his former assistant Cameron Ciraldo, who had pushed hard to sign him.
"I will always be grateful to Penrith for what they did for me. Ivan and Ciraldo took a risk with me and it paid off," Pangai Jnr told AAP.
"They won the comp that year. It was good to be under Moses Leota and 'Fish' (James Fisher-Harris). They are the two leading front-rowers in the game, along with Payne (Haas). They taught me to just go hard.
"I thought I had a high footy IQ but it went a lot higher when I went to Penrith, particularly defensively. They take no short cuts and they work hard for each other.
"They taught me how hard it is to win a comp and that it takes the whole 30 to do it."
The Dolphins prop is under no illusions about the challenge ahead in Penrith against the three-time defending premiers.
"Hopefully Ivan gives the Origin boys a week off and they go to Bali," Pangai Jnr joked.
"It will be a challenge but we will scrap to try and get the two points."
Pangai started for the first time at the Dolphins against Souths where he scored a try, set one up with a slick late offload and ran for 178m.
He was given a task of out-shining in-form Rabbitohs lock Keaon Koloamatangi by coach Wayne Bennett.
"Wayne knows how to motivate me," Pangai Jnr said.
"He asked me if I was keen to start and I said, ‘yes, I am ready’.
"There had been a lot of talk around Keaon’s form so he challenged me to go after him. I challenged myself as well.
"When you play under Wayne you soon realise that he is big on ball control. I have just got to keep playing error-free footy. He keeps it nice and simple for me."
Pangai Jnr, who gave away boxing to return to the NRL earlier this year, has signed a deal with the Dolphins for the rest of the season. He is hopeful of earning an extension under coach-in-waiting Kristian Woolf for next year.
He hasn't ruled out following his mentor Bennett to Redfern next season either.
"You have got to ask my wife and ask Wayne about that. She is the boss and he is the boss too," Pangai Jnr grinned.
"Right now I am just worried about Penrith."
