Dane Gagai facts for kids
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Personal information
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| Born | 3 January 1991 Mackay, Queensland, Australia |
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| Height | 182 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 92 kg (14 st 7 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing information
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| Position | Centre, Wing, Fullback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 27 July 2025
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| Relatives | Jacob Gagai (brother) Josh Hoffman (cousin) Travis Waddell (cousin) Wendell Sailor (cousin) Tristan Sailor (cousin) |
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Dane Gagai (born 3 January 1991) is an Australian professional rugby league player. He is a star centre for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League (NRL). He also plays for the Queensland Maroons in the famous State of Origin series and for the Māori All Stars.
Gagai has played for several top teams, including the Brisbane Broncos and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He has also played for the Australian national team, helping them win the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. In 2017, he won the Wally Lewis Medal as the best player in the State of Origin series. He is known for his speed and skill as a winger and fullback.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Dane Gagai was born in Mackay, Queensland, Australia. He has a rich cultural background. His father's family are Torres Strait Islanders, and his mother's family are Māori from New Zealand. This means he was able to play for both Australia and New Zealand.
Rugby runs in his family! His father, Ray Gagai, played for the Brisbane Broncos in 1989. His brother, Jacob Gagai, plays in the Super League in England. He is also cousins with other famous players like Josh Hoffman, Wendell Sailor, and Travis Waddell.
Gagai played rugby union at Brisbane Boys' College. He later switched to rugby league and was signed by the Brisbane Broncos.
Playing Career
Starting at the Broncos
From 2009 to 2011, Gagai played for the Brisbane Broncos' youth team. He was a fantastic player, scoring 39 tries in 61 games. In 2010, he was named in the NYC (National Youth Competition) Team of the Year.
In 2011, Gagai made his NRL debut for the Broncos. In his very first game, he scored a try! He played six matches that season and scored four tries. He was again named in the NYC Team of the Year.
Move to Newcastle Knights
In 2012, Gagai joined the Newcastle Knights. He quickly became an important player for the team. In his first game for the Knights, he scored a try. He stayed with the Knights for several years, playing over 100 games for the club.
In 2014, Gagai was chosen for the extended Queensland Maroons squad for the State of Origin series, which was a big honour.
State of Origin Star
In 2015, Gagai made his dream come true by playing for Queensland in the State of Origin series. In his first game, he scored the opening try, helping Queensland to a huge 52–6 victory.
Gagai became a star player for Queensland. In the 2016 State of Origin series, he scored a hat-trick (three tries) in one game. In 2017, he was so good that he won the Wally Lewis Medal for Player of the Series. He was the first winger ever to win this award.
South Sydney and World Cup Glory
In 2017, Gagai was selected to play for the Australian Kangaroos in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. He scored his first international try against Lebanon and helped Australia win the World Cup Final against England.
From 2018 to 2021, Gagai played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He continued to be a top try-scorer. In 2019, he scored two tries and was named man of the match in Game 1 of the State of Origin series. In 2021, he helped the Rabbitohs reach the 2021 NRL Grand Final.
Return to the Knights
In 2022, Gagai returned to the Newcastle Knights. He continued to be a key player for the team and for Queensland in the State of Origin. In 2023, he helped the Knights reach the finals.
In 2024, Gagai played his 300th NRL game, a huge milestone for any player. He continues to be a leader at the club and signed a new contract to stay with the Knights.
Career Highlights
- Wally Lewis Medal: 2017
- 2017 Rugby League World Cup: Winner with Australia
- State of Origin series: Multiple series wins with Queensland
- 300+ NRL Games: A major achievement showing his long and successful career.
Career Statistics
Club
| Year | Club | Team | Tries | Goals | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 |  Brisbane Broncos |
6 | 4 | 16 | |
| 2012 |  Newcastle Knights |
12 | 5 | 20 | |
| 2013 | 23 | 5 | 20 | ||
| 2014 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 30 | |
| 2015 | 24 | 7 | 2 | 32 | |
| 2016 | 22 | 3 | 12 | ||
| 2017 | 23 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 2018 |  South Sydney Rabbitohs |
25 | 4 | 16 | |
| 2019 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 54 | |
| 2020 | 19 | 11 | 1 | 46 | |
| 2021 | 23 | 10 | 40 | ||
| 2022 | Newcastle Knights |
20 | 5 | 20 | |
| 2023 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 18 | |
| 2024 | 22 | 8 | 10 | 52 | |
| 2025 | 10 | 1 | 4 | ||
| Totals | 300 | 86 | 22 | 388 |
Representative
| Years | Team | Appearances | Tries | Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015−2024 | Queensland | 21 | 12 | - | 48 |
| 2017−2018 | Australia | 7 | 4 | - | 16 |
| 2015−2017 | Indigenous All-Stars | 3 | 2 | - | 8 |
| 2019–2025 | Maori All-Stars | 2 | 2 | - | 8 |
