'Age is just a number': The legends helping Gagai turn back the clock
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Newcastle veteran Dane Gagai is leaning on the lessons from Darren Lockyer and Justin Hodges as he chases a maiden premiership in his final season with the Knights.
The 35-year-old turned back the clock to produce a vintage performance in Friday's elimination final victory over the Rabbitohs.
Gagai scored a try and won an intense positional battle with Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell as Newcastle kept their season alive with a 20-10 win at Allianz Stadium.
Playing his final year with the Knights before moving to Brisbane next season, Gagai is aware he is closer to the finish line than the start but is desperate to end his career on his terms.
Dane Gagai Try
"I don't listen to what other people are saying," Gagai said. "I know my abilities, what I'm capable of and I won't let anyone retire me when I'm not ready.
"I'm still playing good footy, my body feels good, I still love the game and I still love competing. Once I lose either the passion to play the game or the body can't perform and keep up [I will retire]. Until then, I'm going to keep playing this beautiful game of rugby league and keep trying to win."
Match: Rabbitohs v Knights
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
6th Position
away Team
Knights
7th Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
After toppling the Rabbitohs, the Knights will now play the loser of Saturday's clash between the Warriors and Dolphins in next week's sudden-death semi-final.
Having signed with the Broncos for next season, every match looms as potentially Gagai's last in Newcastle colours.
The upcoming move is a Brisbane homecoming for the former Maroons star, who made his NRL debut with the Broncos in 2011. Playing alongside veterans Darren Lockyer and Justin Hodges, Gagai had a close-up view of what it takes to play into your 30s.
McEwen gets career first double!
Sixteen years and 337 NRL games later, the 35-year-old credits those lessons from his early years for allowing him to extend his career beyond what many thought possible.
"I was fortunate and blessed that when I came through at the start I was watching Darren Lockyer and Justin Hodges," Gagai said. "I was playing with those boys and seeing how they prepared at the back end of their careers in their old age.
"Their preparation was second to none, they went out on the field, did their job and worked hard. For me, age is just a number. I also had Jeremy Smith here at the Knights, who was doing unbelievable things for us and was an awesome leader.
"I've had a lot of great leaders that showed me the way. Hopefully I can have that effect on some of the young boys."
A former Queensland and Australian representative, Gagai has achieved almost everything there is in this game.
There is one box, however, that remains unchecked. Winning an NRL premiership.
The two sides to Dane Gagai
The centre has played in one grand final during his career, South Sydney's heartbreaking loss to Penrith in 2021.
The Knights will have to defy history if they are to taste victory on the first Sunday of October but Gagai is desperate to make the most of a rare shot at glory before moving to Brisbane.
"I know if we lose that's it for me here at the club but I'm not looking at it that way," Gagai said. "I'm chasing a premiership and I want to win a ring.
"I've been playing for 16 years now, I've been in one grand final and I lost it. They're hard to come by and we've put ourselves in a good position to compete for it but there's so many good teams we've got to come up against.
"We've got to focus on ourselves and personally I'm just focusing on how can I be better? What can I do to put us in positions to win games. Once the time comes that I'm leaving, then I'll think about it. Until then, I'm just thinking about winning."
