From the depths of despair, Dane Gagai is on the brink of grand final glory
DANE Gagai has revealed the depth of his pain on one of the darkest days of his life as he gears up for a chance at grand final glory.
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THEY were the images that broke rugby league’s heart. An elite player in tears being consoled by a concerned teammate.
Then Newcastle fullback Dane Gagai wept on the shoulder of Knights teammate Tariq Sims in May 2016. They were gut wrenching scenes.
The loss of his beloved grandmother, Nancy Gagai, came on the morning of a game his Knights lost 62-0 to Cronulla.
It all became too much for a devastated Gagai at full-time. They were heartbreaking scenes.
While still saddened at Nancy’s passing, the smile has now though returned to Gagai’s face.
He has found a new home at South Sydney, is playing exceptional football and is now preparing for a grand final qualifier against Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
Such losses now seems a distant and horrific memory.
“That day, it was a tough loss footy-wise, but it was 6 o’clock that morning that my parents came around and let me know my grandmother had passed away,” Gagai told The Daily Telegraph.
“As a fan, you like to see that passion in players, but fans also have to remember we are all human and we all have lives outside of footy.
“That was a very tough moment in my life, let alone my career. I was very close to her. She was a massive of mine. I was fortunate enough to have her come to the game when I debuted for Queensland in (State of Origin) game three in 2015.
“There were a lot of things piling up on top of each other. The loss against Cronulla hurt as well but the support around me at the time was great.”
Gagai is now a regular in the Queensland State of Origin side and has become a leader at Souths.
Times are good for the Mackay junior heading into Saturday night’s big game.
“The vibe at this club is good, throughout the staff, administration staff,” Gagai said. “All of us are close mates. There is a good feeling around the club.
“I want to give credit to the reserve grade players too, who have been training with us the whole year.
They have been outstanding in our opposed sessions to help us run the plays we do and defend and transition the way we do.
“They are still training with us now even when their season is done, they are still helping us. When we win as a team, we win as a club. That’s what I feel here.”
A crowd of around 42,000 is expected at the final NRL match to be played at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, the winner off to the grand final. It would be Gagai’s first decider.
“I’m looking forward to the game but at the same time I want to stay relaxed,” he said. “You can feel the rivalry through the fans and some of the older players that used to play for the clubs.
“I just have to make sure I get my body right, prepare the best I can so once it comes time to play, there is no doubt in my mind that I will be able to do my job.”
Gagai will line-up at centre again in a sparkling South Sydney backline that includes Adam Reynolds, Cody Walker, Greg Inglis and Alex Johnston.
“Both teams have nothing to lose,” said Souths prop George Burgess. “It’s semi-final football.”
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