Kevin Walters has put new Maroon Dane Gagai on notice after disappointing start

NEW Maroons coach Kevin Walters has urged Dane Gagai to lift his game to ensure he retains his Queensland jumper.

Dane Gagai spills the ball during round 1 of the NRL season between the Gold Coast Titans and the Newcastle Knights at Cbus Super Stadium, Robina. Pics Adam Head

NEW Maroons coach Kevin Walters has urged Origin rookie Dane Gagai to lift his game to ensure he retains his Queensland jumper.

Gagai faces Canberra at Hunter Stadium on Saturday and the clash has taken on added meaning for the Knights ace after being challenged by Walters to reach peak form.

Gagai made his Maroons debut in last year’s decider, scoring the opening try in Queensland’s record 52-6 rout, but Newcastle’s dismal early-season form isn’t helping his cause.

Dane Gagai spills the ball against the Gold Coast Titans. Pics Adam Head

The 25-year-old is trying hard in a struggling team, averaging 123 metres and 16 runs in the opening fortnight. But the Knights’ horrendous defensive efforts, haemorraghing 78 points in two matches, is hampering their attack and Gagai’s output.

In a bid to arrest his side’s winless start, Knights coach Nathan Brown has wielded the axe, dumping rookie Jaelen Feeney and shifting Gagai to fullback for the Raiders clash.

Walters said he would prefer to stick with Gagai, but says loyalty can only extend so far if Queensland’s incumbents aren’t consistently performing at club level.

“We know the capabilities of Dane,” Walters said. “They (Newcastle) haven’t got off to too good a start this year and that’s reflected in all their players.

“Dane is a lot better than what he is showing us. It’s up to him to improve himself and get himself right over the next few weeks to be back in the frame.

“I am a very loyal person and Mal (Meninga, former Maroons coach) was loyal as well.

“It will be up to the 17 players to play their way out of the jersey. They will be given every opportunity over the next 11 weeks to prove their worth and I’m sure they will.”

Dane Gagai scores in game three of the 2015 Origin series against New South Wales. Pics Adam Head

Gagai is not the only Maroon facing the implications of a poorly-performing NRL club. At Brookvale, Manly’s winless start has turned up the heat on Queensland prop Nate Myles, who had a night to forget in his side’s 36-22 loss to Wests Tigers last Monday night.

The former Titans enforcer made 97 metres from 10 runs, dropped two balls and missed a whopping six tackles against the Tigers.

Myles turns 31 in June, but Walters values the no-nonsense contributions the Manly recruit has made in his decorated 29-game career for the Maroons.

Asked if Myles is in danger of being dropped, Walters said: “I don’t believe so, Nate is a very experienced player, he is coming to his 30th Origin appearance for Queensland and he’s had a very successful tenure in the past 10 years.

“I don’t expect that to change with him this year.

“In saying that, the players are aware Queensland jerseys don’t just get handed out. If you get a Queensland jersey, you have to earn it.

“I am watching the Queensland players and how they are performing. Some players are right on top of their game and others aren’t quite there.

“I’m sure the ones not going as great will pick themselves up in time for Origin I.”