Sydney Roosters Deeply Concerned About Late September Sightings Of Origin Gagai

CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT

In the nervous lead up to the 2026 NRL grand final, The Sydney Roosters are this week growing worried about a potential explosion of Origin momentum from Knights veteran Dane Gagai.

As a Queensland Maroon, the hard-boned centre has put the fear of God into the NSW Blues for nearly two decades with his rep footy alias 'Origin Gagai'

This same competitor has been sighted multiple times in the last fortnight, causing great concern for his opponents this weekend.

Known for excelling in the big matches, such as the All Stars games and Origin Deciders, Gagai is also showing an ability to lift in an NRL finals tilt, as the city Newcastle bubbles with excitement.

With big hits and plenty of metres, Dane Gagai is doing for Newy what he does for Queensland.

This may be because Newcastle has become a second home for the 35-year-old, who first moved to the Hunter as skinny little 21-year-old back in 2012 - playing under Wayne Bennett and becoming a stand out figure in the team's preliminary final in 2013.

However, unlike his last finals dash with the Knights - Gagai is no longer the young fella, and is now a wise old veteran of the game - playing alongside young footballlers who remember him from their childhood.

The question is, will the Sydney Roosters be able to counter Origin Gagai with their own ageing Queensland great, Daly Cherry-Evans?

Or will we something completely different from the journeyman: Newy Grand Final Gagai?