Dumped Maroons veteran Gagai is ‘privately fuming’ but he sits on cusp of stunning recall

Maroons veteran Dane Gagai is reportedly “privately fuming” after missing selection in Game I - as rumours of a stunning u-turn emerge.

Dane Gagai of the Maroons looks on during game two of the State of Origin series between New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons at Optus Stadium on June 26, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Snubbed Maroons veteran Dane Gagai is reportedly “privately fuming” and the classy centre has been tipped to earn a recall if NSW wins the Origin opener on Wednesday.

Gagai played 22 straight games for Queensland before he was controversially overlooked for Game 1 by second-year coach Billy Slater.

Dolphins young gun Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was picked instead and 32-year-old, Gagai almost missed out on a wing spot to Cowboys speedster Murray Taulagi.

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“Gagai is gutted. I think he’s privately fuming at the lack of loyalty,” Dave Riccio said on NRL 360.

“He produced over 22 Origins for Queensland. When he gets to that level, it’s elite level Gagai, almost every time.

“You could have played him on a wing. With great respect to Murray, Dane Gagai has played 22 Origins for Queensland and got the job done every time.”

Phil Rothfield agreed Gagai would “have to be filthy” and Queensland legend Gorden Tallis said that’s exactly what Slater would want to hear.

“You’ve got to be disappointed, absolutely, and that’s what you want, you want the fire to be lit in their belly again,” Tallis said.

“You want them to prove the coach wrong and that’s what good players do.”

Dumped Maroons centre Dane Gagai. Gagai

Rothfield said a loss in the series opener “will test Queensland loyalty” like nothing else and Riccio believes that would most likely result in a Gagai recall.

“If the result doesn’t go Queensland’s way in game one, I’ll be stunned if he’s not picked in Game 2,” Riccio said.

Former NSW player Braith Anasta then took a shot at Maroons selectors: “The ethos of Queensland is how loyal they are and they always criticise NSW for being not loyal. And then as soon as they go against the grain a little bit, they get their backs up.”

Originally published as Dumped Maroons veteran Gagai is ‘privately fuming’ but he sits on cusp of stunning recall