Father's proud of athlete sons

NO-ONE is more excited about the NRL debut of Mackay's Dane Gagai than his father Ray.

Mackay rugby league stalwart Ray Gagai in action for the Magpies against Sarina. Picture: Tony Martin

NO-ONE is more excited about the NRL debut of Mackay’s Dane Gagai than his father Ray.

In fact Ray was so excited he loaded the entire family, including his wife Tania and their other children Jacob, 15, and Sophie, 10, onto a train bound for Brisbane last night to guarantee they didn’t miss a single second of Dane’s match.

Dane will feature alongside his first cousin and fellow Brisbane Bronco Josh Hoffman in their side’s blockbuster season opener against the North Queensland Cowboys.

“I can’t wait to see him in action at Suncorp,” Ray said.

“I watched him play against the Melbourne Storm in a trial match and that was exciting, but this (Gagai’s debut) is something really special, I’m so proud of him.”

Adding to Ray’s pride is the fact Dane will wear the same number he wore when he played for the Broncos in their formative years.

“Everyone is really keen to see him play, we’ll all be there in the stands cheering him on but I’ve told him not to look for us. He (Dane) just needs to focus on the game and do his best.

“I have to admit I wasn’t too surprised when he was named in the squad because I thought he had a blinder in his trial game but it was still a bit of a shock.”

Ray said he would visit Hoffman and his son prior to the match but he hasn’t planned anything in the way of pre-match pep talk.

“Dane’s a good kid, he’s been listening to the right people and he takes on advice,” Ray said.

“He told me the other day that he felt like a school kid the first time Darren Lockyer spoke to him and now he’s lining up alongside him (Lockyer) and some of the game’s best players,” Ray said.

“All I’ve really said to him is go out there, have some fun and enjoy it.”

Evans’ family fly out

The Gagais aren’t the only Mackay family heading south to watch their son make their NRL debut.

Troy Evans and his family have flown to Melbourne to watch son Daly Cherry-Evans line up for Manly against Melbourne.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing him play, it is very exciting,” Troy said.

“I don’t think he’ll be overawed by the occasion because he is very determined to succeed.”

Originally published as Father's proud of athlete sons