State of Origin 2016: Dane Gagai shakes off rough season to star for Maroons

AFTER a horror season with the Knights and personal tragedy, no Maroon had a wider smile than Dane Gagai.

Dane Gagai scored his second Origin try.

DANE Gagai was a broken man a fortnight ago.

Shattered by the death of his grandmother, Gagai was the centre of one of rugby league’s most heartbreaking scenes when he sobbed on the shoulder of Newcastle teammate Tariq Sims after a 62-0 flogging.

Gagai was on the cusp of been axed by Maroons selectors, despite his fantastic Origin debut in last year’s 52-6 rout of the Blues in the decider.

Playing in a team destined for the wooden spoon, Gagai could have easily become a victim of circumstances if Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt didn’t bomb his Origin audition.

Knowing his place in the Maroons jersey is far from secure, Gagai repaid the faith shown in him by new coach Kevin Walters at ANZ Stadium.

He scored Queensland’s only try and ran the ball 20 times, the most of any player on the field in the gritty 6-4 win for the Maroons.

“Dane’s only played the one Origin game before,” Walters said.

“Him and Justin (O’Neill, centre) are from a pretty good pedigree.

“They were well supported by everyone around them.”

Gagai set the tone for a memorable night with his first touch, piercing through the Blues’ defensive line when he returned an Adam Reynolds kick.

He was busy in the first half, making the most runs (11) and metres (99) of any player on the field.

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None were more important than his last, when he finished off a beautiful backline movement to score what would turn out to be Queensland’s only try.

It was the second time Gagai has crossed in his two-game Origin career, which has been incredibly impressive.

Gagai never backed down in his second Origin match.

The 25-year-old’s energy has been refreshing for an ageing team and he started the second half how he finished the first.

Gagai was in Matt Moylan’s face, forcing the fullback to spill a bomb, and he nearly crossed on the resulting turnover, only to be denied by a desperate James Maloney.

The ball kept coming Gagai’s way, his only blemish being a fumble in-goal. He came up with a crucial play to deny the Blues a certain try.

His 20th carry of the ball was with the same venom as his first, securing his spot on the Queensland wing for the return bout at Suncorp Stadium on June 22.

Originally published as State of Origin 2016: Dane Gagai shakes off rough season to star for Maroons