Gagai out to show he belongs in Roos team

DANE Gagai is a knockout chance for his first Kangaroos jersey and says he has “done everything he can”.

Such is the depth in at coach Mal Meninga’s disposal, Gagai may become the first Wally Lewis Medal winner – for the best player during the State of Origin series – to be snubbed for an Australian callup in the same year.

The Newcastle Knights winger is one of up to a dozen players with a legitimate claim to be picked in the outside backs for the World Cup, starting next month.

Meninga declared Gagai would be “one of the first picked’’ and “an automatic selection’’ straight after Queensland’s Origin series triumph in July. But with Newcastle well out of NRL finals contention, Gagai will be hoping he remains in Meninga’s plans.

“I’ve done everything I can and there’s not much more I can except sit back and wait,’’ Gagai said.

“I’m sure Mal won’t approach anyone about (the selection) until after the finals are done.’’

Gagai will get his chance to remind the coach why he deserves his Cup berth with a big game for the Prime Minister’s XIII next weekend, when Tom Trbojevic, James Tedesco, Kangaroos wing incumbent Valentine Holmes and Josh Dugan round out the back five.

One thing that will work in Gagai’s favour is that he is well like by the Queensland Origin players and impressed Meninga at Queensland in 2015.

Gagai is now planning for his off-season move to South Sydney and the change of coaches there has not dented his enthusiasm.

“I don’t know the ins and outs of what went on, Madge (Michael Maguire) was a great coach, he brought South Sydney a premiership,’’ Gagai said.

“Seebs (new coach Anthony Seibold) has some great qualities in terms of interacting with players, and he’s very knowledgeable.”