Pangai's move to Panthers set to benefit Bulldogs

Broncos prop Payne Haas believes Tevita Pangai jnr's mid-season move to Penrith could be beneficial for the Tongan international, the Panthers and his future club, the Bulldogs.

Haas, who tried to persuade Pangai to stay at Brisbane, predicted the star forward would boost Penrith's premiership prospects while improving his defence under Panthers assistant Cameron Ciraldo.

"Tevita is going to bring a lot to their team," Haas said. "He will bring that aggression and I think he will bring a bit more flair to their team, some more offloads and a bit more variety for them.

"We are close mates and he is like a brother to me but at the end of the day it is a business. I am happy for him that he has got his future sorted.

"I think him going to Penrith for the next few months will help him a lot, especially under a guy like Cam Ciraldo, who is a really good defence coach.

"That is all that Tevita needs to work on, his attack's there and he is one of the most damaging ball runners in the comp.

"I'm pretty sure being at Penrith is going to suit him well the next couple of months and he will go and take that experience into the Bulldogs."

Pangai wasn't named in the Penrith squad to play Melbourne on Saturday night but the Panthers believe he can be an asset in the run home to the finals, particularly with prop James Fisher-Harris returning to Sydney for the birth of his child.

The Broncos pushed Penrith to the wire last weekend before going down 18-12 but Haas believes they are still one of the teams to beat, particularly when star halfback Nathan Cleary returns from a shoulder injury and Pangai joins their team.

"Obviously, they have still got Nathan Cleary out and he leaves a big hole in their team," Haas said. "He is the best player in the comp, I would say, at the moment and when he is back they will be hard to beat."

Brisbane host North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night and Haas said both teams would go into the derby with confidence after the Cowboys narrow 22-16 loss to Melbourne last weekend.

The Broncos will be without suspended prop Thomas Flegler and have lost Pangai and Matt Lodge from their forward pack after releasing the pair in recent weeks but Haas said other players would step up.

"I think last week showed what both teams are capable of. I think especially for us it is a matter of backing it up. We play one good game and the next four games we drop off and go about two steps back," Haas said.

"It is about us backing it up each week and it is a good game for us to play the Cowboys in a derby game.

"Obviously versing a team like Penrith and if we did a few things right we could have got the win last week. We have just got to ice those games and not panic. We will take that in against the Cowboys this week and we are pretty confident. We have got to work hard."