Tongan international Tevita Pangai Junior will join fellow Mate Maʻa Tonga forward Joe Ofahengaue at Leigh Leopards after securing a multi-year Super League deal from 2027.
The move gives Leigh another experienced Tongan presence in its forward pack as the English club strengthens its squad under head coach Adrian Lam.
Pangai Junior, 30, brings 147 NRL appearances and international experience with Tonga, having made his Mate Maʻa Tonga debut during the historic 2017 Rugby League World Cup campaign.
He began his NRL career with Brisbane Broncos in 2016 and later played for Penrith Panthers, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Dolphins.
Pangai Junior also represented New South Wales in State of Origin in 2023 before taking his career to Europe.
He joined Catalans Dragons for the 2025 Super League season, making 23 appearances and scoring four tries, before moving to Hull KR during the 2026 campaign.
His latest move will reunite him with Ofahengaue, with both Tongan internationals having previously played for Brisbane.
Pangai Junior said he and his family were excited about joining Leigh and thanked the club for putting its faith in him.
“I’m really looking forward to getting a full pre-season and working hard with my new teammates,” he said.
Lam said Pangai Junior would add “size, power, aggression and competitiveness” to Leigh’s forward pack.
The coach also expects the experienced Tongan to develop into a leader at the club.
Pangai Junior’s arrival adds another Mate Maʻa Tonga connection to Leigh as the club prepares for its 2027 campaign.
His multi-year agreement means the powerful forward is set to extend a career that has now taken him from the NRL to France and England.
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