Tevita Pangai Jr escapes suspension after Canterbury Bulldogs' NRL trial loss to Cronulla Sharks

Tevita Pangai Jr's inability to curb his aggression has immediately become Canterbury coach Trent Barrett's headache after the star recruit was twice placed on report in a disappointing 30-6 NRL trial loss to Cronulla.

But the former Brisbane and Penrith back-rower has remarkably escaped suspended for his new team's season-opening clash with North Queensland after lashing out at rival forward Royce Hunt at Shark Park.

The 29th-minute incident, in which the defending Pangai Jr appeared to jersey punch Hunt at least once, ripping his jersey as they wrestled in a tackle, came after he was cited for contacting the head of Sione Katoa.

But Pangai Jr's brain snap, for which he was sin-binned, was the main talking point.

Hunt had the last laugh by barging over for a four-pointer right after the confrontation to make it 18-6.

Pangai Jr's ill-discipline earned the ire of Barrett.

The firebrand's lengthy rap sheet includes a three-game ban for a crusher tackle last season.

«We want Tevita to be aggressive but we have to be smart,» Barrett said.

«Cronulla have got a few forwards with a bit of niggle but we can't get roped into that and we've got to be better than that.

»We're not a good enough side to have those errors and penalties go against us."

The match review committees' decision not to charge Pangai Jr will create further debate over the role of the judiciary after Latrell Mitchell was also cleared to play in Round 1.  

The good news for Canterbury was the performance of another Panthers' recruit, Matt Burton. The 2021 premiership-winning Penrith centre kicked well, including forcing a dropout with a deft grubber, and sliced through for a 16th-minute try on the left edge.

His halves partnership with Jake Averillo showed glimpses of