Dane Gagai

Dane Gagai
Gagai playing for the Broncos in 2009.
Personal information
Born 3 January 1991
Mackay, Queensland, Australia
Height 182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 91 kg (14 st 5 lb)
Playing information
Position Fullback, Centre, Wing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2011 Brisbane Broncos 7 4 0 0 16
2012– Newcastle Knights 67 21 1 0 86
Total 74 25 1 0 102
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015 Indigenous All Stars 1 0 0 0 0
Source: Rugby League Project

Dane Gagai (born 3 January 1991) is a Indigenous Australian-Māori professional rugby league footballer for the Newcastle Knights of the National Rugby League. He primarily plays fullback, centre and wing.

Background

Born in Mackay, Queensland, Gagai played his junior football for Brisbane Wests before being signed by the Brisbane Broncos.

Playing career

From 2009 to 2011, Gagai played for the Brisbane Broncos' NYC team, scoring 39 tries in 61 games.[1]

At the end of 2010, Gagai was named at fullback in the 2010 NYC Team of the Year and played for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis.

In Round 1 of the 2011 NRL season, Gagai made his NRL debut for the Broncos in their 14-16 loss to the North Queensland Cowboys. He scored a try on debut.[2]

At the end of 2011, Gagai was named at wing in the 2011 NYC Team of the Year.[3][4]

In March 2012, Gagai re-signed with the Broncos on a 2-year contract.[5]

In May 2012, Gagai was released from his Broncos contract less than 2 months after re-signing.[6]

On 28 May 2012, Gagai signed a 2 1⁄2-year contract with the Newcastle Knights effective immediately.[7][8] He made his debut for the Knights in Round 14 of the 2012 NRL season, scoring a try in their 32-16 loss to the Canberra Raiders.

On 22 May 2013, Gagai re-signed with the Knights on a 2-year contract.[9]

On 13 February 2015, Gagai played for the Indigenous All Stars against the NRL All Stars in the annual All Stars match.[10]

On 10 April 2015, Gagai re-signed with the Knights on a 2-year contract[11] after strong interest from his former club Brisbane Broncos.[12]

Personal life

Gagai's father Ray was a member of the Brisbane Broncos' squad in the 1989 NSWRL season. Gagai is also the cousin of Brisbane Broncos player Josh Hoffman,[13] former Broncos player Wendell Sailor[14] and fellow Knights player Travis Waddell.

Gagai is eligible to play for both Australia and New Zealand through parents of Indigenous Australian and Māori descent.[15]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.rleague.com//db/player/g/gagai_dane/index.php
  2. ↑ http://www.broncos.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=34256&title=coach-feels-for-young-players
  3. ↑ Thompson, Michael (31 August 2011). "Cowboys duo named among cream of the under-20s crop". Townsville Bulletin. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  4. ↑ "Warriors centre named in top U-20 team". stuff.co.nz. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  5. ↑ http://www.nrl.com/broncos-gagai-in-new-two-year-nrl-deal/tabid/10874/newsid/66394/default.aspx
  6. ↑ http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/broncos-release-dane-gagai-from-contract-20120508-1yasc.html
  7. ↑ http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Knights-sign-Gagai-resign-Rochow-and-Smith/56009
  8. ↑ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/newcastle-knights-win-fight-for-dumped-bronco-dane-gagais-signature/story-e6frexnr-1226369759399?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailytelegraphnrlndm+%28Daily+Telegraph+%7C+NRL%29
  9. ↑ http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Dane-Gagai-commits-until-2015/75286
  10. ↑ http://www.nrl.com/final-all-stars-teams-announced/tabid/10874/newsid/83748/default.aspx
  11. ↑ http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2015/04/10/gagai_extends_knight.html
  12. ↑ http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/dane-gagai-wants-to-return-to-the-brisbane-broncos-the-club-which-sacked-him-two-years-ago/story-fniabnkr-1227028499554
  13. ↑ Ricketts, Steve (28 February 2010). "Dane Gagai to play for Broncos, the first son to follow his father, Ray, into the team". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  14. ↑ http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/broncos-release-dane-gagai-from-contract-20120508-1yasc.html
  15. ↑ Former Bronco Dane Gagai won't rule out having a run for Kiwis news.com.au, 12 August 2012

External links