Mackay’s Dane Gagai to play in first grand final, owes it all to family

Dane Gagai saw the potential of the young Rabbitohs when he moved from Newcastle in 2018. Now in his last game for South Sydney, the centre is set to finally play in his first grand final.

Dane Gagai is using the image of his family cheering him on from around the country as motivation for this weekend’s season decider.

The Mackay-raised centre will line up for South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL grand final after a number of fruitless seasons at Newcastle.

Gagai said winning a premiership would repay the sacrifice his family made.

“The amount of sacrifice they’ve put in to put me in a position where I can do this as a career, and get an opportunity to win one is all back to them,” he said.

Dane Gagai and Cody Walker after the NRL Preliminary Final match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Manly Sea Eagles at Suncorp Stadium on September 24, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. Picture: NRL Photos.

“I know every single one of them will be watching because we all love our rugby league so I’ll be doing everything I can to make them proud.”

Since Gagai’s move from Newcastle, South Sydney has made four consecutive trips to the finals but never reached the ultimate match of the season.

He said the desire to play in a competitive team influenced his decision to sign for the Rabbitohs ahead of the 2018 season.

“At the time they hadn’t made the top eight, but I mainly looked at the young guys coming through,” he said.

“These young fellas have just got this competitiveness that I really like, they’re not happy just chucking on a jersey and being first graders.

Dane Gagai of the Rabbitohs thanks fans after winning the round four NRL match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Stadium Australia, on April 02, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Cameron Spencer

“They actually want to win and represent the club the best way they can and that was a big draw for me.

“I just kept seeing these guys developing and our team developing into something special.”

The grand final on Sunday will be Gagai’s last match as a Rabbitoh, with a move back to Newcastle confirmed for 2022.

He said he had not thought about it being his last match for South Sydney, instead he was focused on his first grand final.

“I’m not thinking ‘this is my last year at the club’,” Gagai said.

Dane Gagai. Picture: NRL Images

“All I’m thinking is how I can be the best version of myself, when it comes to game time to not let the team down.”

Gagai’s impending move to Newcastle will mean he is reunited with his parents.

“My parents are actually in Newcastle, they’ve been living there for a few years,” he said.

“I was the biggest fan of my old man, he was my favourite player growing up and I think it’s safe to say it goes both ways.

“He loves his footy and I’ll be getting advice from him, he never actually got to go on and play first grade but I hear stories that he definitely had the potential to.

“To win a grand final would not only be special for myself but for my family.”

Originally published as Mackay’s Dane Gagai to play in first grand final, owes it all to family