Earning his stripes at Brisbane has been tougher for Tevita Pangai Jnr than you may expect.
The barnstorming backrower thinks he might just have done it though as he dares to dream of a future at a club where he arrived almost awe-struck.
The 22-year-old scored twice in a 31-minute cameo on Friday against the Panthers to underline his status as one of the NRL’s most damaging young talents.
But a modest Pangai Jnr admitted it had been a struggle to find his swagger at Red Hill.
“It’s just hard at a big club. The Broncos are one of the biggest sporting brands,” he told media post-game.
“All the Test players that you’re playing with and Origin players … it’s hard to get your confidence up but it’s good to finally get it.
“The boys are really backing me – Darius (Boyd) has really helping me a lot with my confidence and the senior boys are starting to trust me, so that’s a big plus for me.”
It appears now it’s only his temperamental hamstrings holding him back, with Pangai Jnr revealing he was a reluctant starter in the 50-18 flogging at Suncorp Stadium.
Citing tightness after Thursday’s captain’s run, the backrower said if it were up to him he wouldn’t have played.
“I tried to (say no) but the big fella (coach Wayne Bennett) wanted me to play,” he said.
The off-contract Pangai Jnr is on Bennett’s hit list, with club loyalty perhaps the crucial factor as the club feels the salary cap squeeze.
“He came to the Broncos because he wanted to play with the Broncos and me to coach him, so I don’t see why he’d be in a hurry to leave,” Bennett said.
Bennett has a history of retaining his best young talent and last week signed back Jamayne Isaako and 18-year-old prop Payne Haas on long-term deals.
Fellow 18-year-old forward David Fifita is on the books alongside Jack Bird and proven pair Matt Gillett and Josh McGuire, while Matt Lodge, Jaydn Su’A and Corey Oates are still to sign.
Pangai Jnr has been cagey about contract discussion but admitted he had dreamt up a possible timeline at Red Hill.
“I’m happy for Payne that he’s got a big contract. Hopefully he can shout me dinner now,” he said.
“All of us young boys just want to be the best we can be and try and bring a premiership to Brisbane again.
“Yeah, there’s definitely a future here. Hopefully we can keep everyone together.”