Tevita Pangai Junior on ice for Dolphins with hamstring injury delaying debut for his latest NRL club

New Dolphins recruit Tevita Pangai Junior will be available for selection for the NRL round-16 clash with Melbourne, coach Wayne Bennett has revealed.

Pangai trained with the club on Wednesday after the 28-year-old Tongan international signed last week for the rest of 2024.

He has a minor hamstring injury sustained a fortnight ago with Queensland Cup side Souths-Logan and is unlikely to play in the second tier this weekend.“We are happy to have him here and he wants to be here. It’s all positive for us,” Bennett said ahead of Thurday’s clash against Cronulla.

“He will be right to go next week. The season is getting away from us so we can’t keep him here and not play him.

“Jesse Bromwich is not playing tomorrow (due to a rib injury) and Thomas Flegler, we don’t know when he will be back. We know that Tom Gilbert won’t be back. That’s three forwards so we are a bit light on.”

Pangai has played 138 NRL games, 96 of them at the Broncos where he was coached by Bennett. He was released by Canterbury last year to take up boxing but has given a career in the ring away to return to the NRL.

Bennett said he would offer more than just impact off the bench.

“He might be starting yet. Let’s worry about him next week,” the coach said,

Pangai will be vital with Flegler’s future still a concern due to nerve damage to his shoulder.

“He (Flegler) is in a situation where we don’t know whether he will play again or when he will play,” Bennett said.

“There are so many unanswered questions. If it’s improving it is very slow but it is nowhere near being able to play or determine what his future looks like.

“I think he has handled it well. He’s got the best advice from the medical people and staff and he is dealing with it“The nerve hasn’t repaired itself and there is not much they can do until it repairs itself.”

Five-eighth Kodi Nikorima returns from a calf injury against the Sharks on Thursday night after missing the round-13 loss to Canberra.

Nikorima will captain the side in the absence of Bromwich and has been one of the club’s best players for the past 18 months.“Kodi has really grown as a player and a bloke,” Bennett said.

“He means a lot to the team with his communication and what he does as well.”Fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow returns after missing the Raiders clash due to State of Origin duty where he scored three electrifying tries in Queensland’s 38-10 win over NSW..

“He wasn’t even running flat out. The GPS told us that,” Bennett said.

“He still had more speed which he didn’t use but that’s Hammer. He just uses what he has to.”