Dane trains but Rabbits talk is in vain
DANE Gagai is focused on putting his name on the Kangaroos’ selection table for the World Cup in his first game in three weeks as part of the Prime Minister’s XIII.
The Mackay running machine is one of two Queenslanders in the squad who trained at Jones Park yesterday before they head off to Port Moresby today.
Barring injury, Gagai will return to Cairns in South Sydney colours next season, but refused to be drawn on anything apart from Saturday’s PM’s XIII match. He said any chance to come to the warmth of the Far North was a welcome one, particular heading to even more oppressive tropical conditions in PNG.
“I love coming back here, the weather’s beautiful. I miss this. It was a bit fresh leaving Newcastle this morning, it was nice and cold, but yeah you can’t beat the weather up here and being back up north here is great but we’ve got a job to do in PNG,” Gagai said.
While he has not played since his NRL season ended at the Knights, he said he expected to be up for his World Cup audition thanks to another sporting pursuit.
KANGAROOS hopeful Dane Gagai expects his challenges in the water since the end of the NRL season to hold him in good stead for a tilt at Mal Meninga’s World Cup squad.
The 26-year-old Queensland State of Origin hero had barely touched a ball for almost three weeks until landing in Cairns yesterday to train with the Prime Minister’s XIII, instead surfing to keep his lungs ticking over.
“I’ve been doing a bit of surfing.
“That’s something I like to do in my off time so I obviously haven’t played much football but spent a bit of time out on the water so I’d like to think that will help out but there’s nothing like being on the field and running around so I’m looking forward to having a bit of a blowout,” Gagai said.
“If you’re a bit of a novice surfer like myself you tend to spend a bit of time underwater … holding your breath so it tests the lungs a bit.”
Fitness will be a priority in tropical Port Moresby against a passionate band of local players and despite a weakened PNG squad thanks to the Hunters making the Intrust Cuper Cup decider, Gagai still expected a physical challenge.
“They’re passionate rugby league fans and players and they’re some of the toughest people we come across,” he said.
“I played against them in 2015 and it was one of the most physical games I’ve played in and I’m not expecting anything different and I know they’re going to come out with all intent to do their country proud and play a tough physical game of football.”
Gagai was confident his efforts would help influence how Meninga picks his World Cup squad, although in a team full of NRL stars, he knows putting his hand up for the tough stuff could make the biggest difference on the selection table.
“We’ve got a strong team and I’m just going to be looking to do the same things as I always do and just get in there and help out wherever I can.
“If that’s taking them carries that no one really wants to take, that’s what I’ll do to give my forward a break because them boys are going to have a tough job in the middle there, especially against these fellas,” he said.
“They can hit fairly hard so I’ll be just doing everything I can to help out.”
Queensland teammate Josh Papalii was named in the squad but will not travel for family reasons.