Broncos deny claims Tevita Pangai Jnr, Jamayne Isaako are negotiating with Tigers

Tevita Pangai Junior and Jamayne Isaako will remain at the Broncos next season, despite reports the duo met with Wests Tigers officials this week.

Tigers coach Micheal Maguire, CEO Justin Pascoe and club recruitment boss Adam Hartigan were spotted boarding a flight from Sydney to Brisbane on Wednesday morning.

According to Fox League reporter James Hooper, the trio was on a hit-and-run mission to secretly speak with Pangai Junior and Isaako about a move to Concord in 2022.

Both players are under contract at Red Hill until the end of next season, which under the NRL’s protocols prohibits them from entering negotiations with rival clubs until November this year.

However, the Broncos insisted neither player was negotiating with the Tigers, declaring only Isaako met with Maguire, who is also the New Zealand Test coach, over international football matters.

“Broncos Coach Kevin Walters this morning met with Jamayne Isaako and Tevita Pangai Junior, following much speculation they had met with representatives from another NRL Club,” the statement read.

“Jamayne stated he had met with Michael Maguire in his role as New Zealand Test Coach to discuss matters relating to International football.

“Tevita categorically rejected suggestions being circulated in the media that any meeting took place with Maguire, also coach of Wests Tigers.

“To be clear, neither player has been given permission, nor sought permission, to speak with other Clubs, and both players are contracted with the Broncos until the end of the 2022 season.

“The Broncos consider this the end of this matter and will make no further comment.”

The Courier Mail’s Peter Badel revealed the Broncos have requested for the NRL to launch an investigation into the Tigers, which was denied by the governing body.

“The NRL says there will be no formal probe into Wests Tigers approaching Tevita Pangai Jnr and Jamayne Isaako,” Badel tweeted. “Suggestions Brisbane made a complaint but NRL CEO Andrew Abdo will not launch an investigation.”

Owing to the belief Isaako and Pangai were in talks with the Tigers is the Broncos’ reported interest in breakout Storm fullback Nicho Hynes and out-of-favour Raiders hooker Josh Hodgson.

It’s understood both are on Brisbane’s radar for next year, however, the club would need to clear considerable salary cap space to accommodate the pair.