Brisbane Broncos forward Tevita Pangai Jr will not play for New South Wales and has permanently pledged his allegiance to featuring for Tonga at representative level.
Pangai has played four Tests for Tonga and the 23-year-old was hotly-tipped as a potential debutant in the Blues forward pack.
But The Courier Mail reports that the Broncos enforcer phoned coach Brad Fittler to say he would prefer to stick with the Tonga.
“I was no certainty to be picked at all and I wasn’t thinking I could just walk into a great NSW team, but I don’t want to stuff a guy like Freddy around.”
It comes as fellow Tongan international Andrew Fifita recently reaffirmed his commitment to the island nation.
“The pinnacle of our game is to play for your country,” Fifita said earlier this month.
“And we’ve created something really good for international footy and I don’t want it to drop off.”
Pangai and Fifita follow Jason Taumalolo in turning down Origin to support the ever-improving international game.
Earlier this year Taumalolo wrote in a foxsports.com.au column about an offer to play Origin for Queensland and Pangai’s ambition to play for the Blues.
“People talk about him playing State of Origin for New South Wales,” Taumalolo wrote. “He is capable of playing Origin, and I, nor any of the other Tongan boys, would hold him back from choosing that over the Mate Ma’a.
“There were some rumours about me trying to play for Queensland, which were wide of the mark. I hadn’t spoken to anyone about it, so was a surprise to hear about it in the news!
Origin is one of the greatest spectacles in rugby league, but playing for your country is still the greatest honour our game has to offer.”
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