Official: Dane Gagai signs with Knights effective immediately until end of 2014
- Thread starter josh2010
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Joshhh
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Bennett a major factor in Gagai signing
Hunter Ports Newcastle Knights recruit Dane Gagai said the opportunity to play under Wayne Bennett was a major factor in his decision to join the Club.
Gagai has committed to the Knights until the end of the 2014 season and will take part in his first training session on Tuesday.
A number of other Clubs were believed to have been chasing Gagai, but the 21-year-old said the influence of seven-time premiership winning coach Wayne Bennett helped the Knights to secure his signature.
“It was a pretty big decision for me and I think I made the right decision in the end,” Gagai explained.
“Obviously Newcastle showed an interest in me early and they were good enough to fly me down and show me around Newcastle.
“I got to meet Wayne Bennett and have a meeting with him and that was a big influence in getting me down here.
”Gagai’s father had previously played under Bennett at the Broncos and it was with his blessing that Dane joined the Knights.
“My dad was obviously with the Broncos when they first started and playing with the Colts in the younger grades,” Gagai said.
“He had a little bit to do with Wayne and he was happy with my decision to come here and train under Wayne.
”The young utility was confident he would be able to make a smooth transition into the Knights camp after switching Clubs mid-season.
“It shouldn’t be too bad as I’ve played a bit of footy with Korbin Sims and Alex McKinnon which are the lads I’ll be living with so I’m sure they’ll be able to help me out and help me make a few friends," he said.
Since his departure from the Brisbane Broncos earlier this month, Gagai said he has been focused on maintaining his fitness to ensure he would be ready to play as soon as an opportunity arrived.
“I’ve been keeping myself fit, just going to the gym and doing a bit of exercise and running,” he said.
“I think I’d be up for the challenge (of playing straight away).
"To watch Gagai's first interview since joining the Knights, click here.
http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Bennett-a-major-factor-in-Gagai-signing/56030
Hunter Ports Newcastle Knights recruit Dane Gagai said the opportunity to play under Wayne Bennett was a major factor in his decision to join the Club.
Gagai has committed to the Knights until the end of the 2014 season and will take part in his first training session on Tuesday.
A number of other Clubs were believed to have been chasing Gagai, but the 21-year-old said the influence of seven-time premiership winning coach Wayne Bennett helped the Knights to secure his signature.
“It was a pretty big decision for me and I think I made the right decision in the end,” Gagai explained.
“Obviously Newcastle showed an interest in me early and they were good enough to fly me down and show me around Newcastle.
“I got to meet Wayne Bennett and have a meeting with him and that was a big influence in getting me down here.
”Gagai’s father had previously played under Bennett at the Broncos and it was with his blessing that Dane joined the Knights.
“My dad was obviously with the Broncos when they first started and playing with the Colts in the younger grades,” Gagai said.
“He had a little bit to do with Wayne and he was happy with my decision to come here and train under Wayne.
”The young utility was confident he would be able to make a smooth transition into the Knights camp after switching Clubs mid-season.
“It shouldn’t be too bad as I’ve played a bit of footy with Korbin Sims and Alex McKinnon which are the lads I’ll be living with so I’m sure they’ll be able to help me out and help me make a few friends," he said.
Since his departure from the Brisbane Broncos earlier this month, Gagai said he has been focused on maintaining his fitness to ensure he would be ready to play as soon as an opportunity arrived.
“I’ve been keeping myself fit, just going to the gym and doing a bit of exercise and running,” he said.
“I think I’d be up for the challenge (of playing straight away).
"To watch Gagai's first interview since joining the Knights, click here.
http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news-display/Bennett-a-major-factor-in-Gagai-signing/56030
I'm ok with it. I'll take those people who watched him in the QLD Cup who said he killed it, so it'll be great to see how he goes in first grade when he cares. It's a bit of a risk, but I hope he is not on too much (early on anyway)I know we have depth, but a lot aren't really ready for first grade anyway. Gaigai is.
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Gagai has God-given gifts, says Bennett
Brett Keeble
May 29, 2012
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ays-bennett-20120528-1zfg8.html#ixzz1wEZWL758
NEWCASTLE coach Wayne Bennett said mid-season recruit Dane Gagai would bring a ''God-given'' talent to the Knights that he could not teach.
The discarded Broncos utility back has signed until the end of 2014. Gagai will train with his new teammates for the first time today but it is understood he is unlikely to make his Newcastle debut against his old club at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
Considering him as a winger, centre or fullback, Bennett will monitor Gagai's progress this week, but would not discuss whether he would be considered for selection against the Broncos.
''This guy's a rare talent,'' Bennett told the Herald last night. ''That's why we've brought him here, because he can bring something that I can't coach, and he can bring something the fans want to watch, and that's God-given. If we get the other part right, he can hopefully have a decade here.
''If he was just another footy player that didn't have those special qualities, well, we wouldn't have recruited him. He's got speed, he's highly skilled and he's a football player. In other words, he's not an athlete, but he's got a footy brain about him.''
The 21-year-old former Junior Kangaroos representative signed a two-year contract with the Broncos in March but Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin told him three weeks ago that he would no longer be considered for NRL selection due to a series of disciplinary breaches.
Gagai's indiscretions were undisclosed but Bennett said the Mackay-born former Queensland Schoolboys rugby union representative was not guilty of any abusive or antisocial behaviour linked to drugs or alcohol.
''We need to be candid about it. At the end of the day, the Broncos realised his wonderful potential but felt they'd gone as far as they could with him,'' Bennett said.
''But from all my questioning of people that mattered up there was the fact that he doesn't have a drinking problem and he certainly doesn't do drugs.
''He was missing the odd session here and there, or being late, and he was probably not as disciplined off the field as they wanted him to be. They felt he was getting in with the wrong crowd, and the influences around him weren't good for him, so they just ran out of patience with him. That happens sometimes at footy clubs.''
When the Broncos released him, Gagai said he ''stuffed up'' and their decision was the ''kick in the pants'' he needed. Bennett said Gagai had to support that sentiment with better behaviour off the field.
Brett Keeble
May 29, 2012
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ays-bennett-20120528-1zfg8.html#ixzz1wEZWL758
NEWCASTLE coach Wayne Bennett said mid-season recruit Dane Gagai would bring a ''God-given'' talent to the Knights that he could not teach.
The discarded Broncos utility back has signed until the end of 2014. Gagai will train with his new teammates for the first time today but it is understood he is unlikely to make his Newcastle debut against his old club at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
Considering him as a winger, centre or fullback, Bennett will monitor Gagai's progress this week, but would not discuss whether he would be considered for selection against the Broncos.
''This guy's a rare talent,'' Bennett told the Herald last night. ''That's why we've brought him here, because he can bring something that I can't coach, and he can bring something the fans want to watch, and that's God-given. If we get the other part right, he can hopefully have a decade here.
''If he was just another footy player that didn't have those special qualities, well, we wouldn't have recruited him. He's got speed, he's highly skilled and he's a football player. In other words, he's not an athlete, but he's got a footy brain about him.''
The 21-year-old former Junior Kangaroos representative signed a two-year contract with the Broncos in March but Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin told him three weeks ago that he would no longer be considered for NRL selection due to a series of disciplinary breaches.
Gagai's indiscretions were undisclosed but Bennett said the Mackay-born former Queensland Schoolboys rugby union representative was not guilty of any abusive or antisocial behaviour linked to drugs or alcohol.
''We need to be candid about it. At the end of the day, the Broncos realised his wonderful potential but felt they'd gone as far as they could with him,'' Bennett said.
''But from all my questioning of people that mattered up there was the fact that he doesn't have a drinking problem and he certainly doesn't do drugs.
''He was missing the odd session here and there, or being late, and he was probably not as disciplined off the field as they wanted him to be. They felt he was getting in with the wrong crowd, and the influences around him weren't good for him, so they just ran out of patience with him. That happens sometimes at footy clubs.''
When the Broncos released him, Gagai said he ''stuffed up'' and their decision was the ''kick in the pants'' he needed. Bennett said Gagai had to support that sentiment with better behaviour off the field.
Junior11
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
A spot only opened up for him in round 4 when Yow Yeh got injured and by then he was getting into trouble for his disciplinary issues and has been out of favour ever since. He was being groomed to take Hodge's position and QLD are all over him as he's seen as a future Origin star, the guy is a phenomenal talent. I hope we can get the best out of him and he stays a Knight for a very long time.
He has been out of favoured for over a year.
He actually started round one last season the wing but then he got injured against the Raiders.
He last game in first grade was against the Eels when he scored two tries and hasnt been seen since in first grade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_uBYnrWD4U
He actually started round one last season the wing but then he got injured against the Raiders.
He last game in first grade was against the Eels when he scored two tries and hasnt been seen since in first grade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_uBYnrWD4U
Junior11
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
He's been out of favour for over a year??? His last NRL game was only 10 months ago so how do you figure that? He's only just turned 21! Just because he has potential doesn't mean he should already be a full-time NRL superstar, alot has contributed to him not playing more games in the NRL and not one of them is because he's not good enough...
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Dale Copely was getting picked over him.
If you see how Dale Copely plays then you'll realise Gagai not getting picked has nothing do with how he was playing.
Ethan
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Hey pork pies are ok with a bit of hot english mustard but warm beer is enough to make you puke .If the Catalan Dragons buy him it will more likely be croissants and red wine. Maybe some hot english mustard in our forwards underwear just before the game might work lol.