1. Dane Gagai was born on 3 January 1991 and is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League, the Queensland Maroons in the State of Origin series and the Maori All Stars.
Dane Gagai previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights, and South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.
Dane Gagai previously represented the Indigenous All Stars and the Prime Minister's XIII.
Dane Gagai is of Torres Strait Islander heritage through his father's family and Ngati Pikiao Maori descent by way of his mother's ancestry.
Dane Gagai's father, Ray, was a member of the Brisbane Broncos' squad in the 1989 NSWRL season.
Dane Gagai is the cousin of former New Zealand test player Josh Hoffman, former Broncos player Wendell Sailor and former Broncos player Travis Waddell.
Dane Gagai attended Brisbane Boys' College where he played rugby union and then played his junior rugby league for Brisbane Wests before being signed by the Brisbane Broncos.
From 2009 to 2011, Dane Gagai played for the Brisbane Broncos' NYC team, scoring 39 tries in 61 games.
Dane Gagai finished his debut year in the NRL with 4 tries in 6 matches.
Dane Gagai was again named in the NYC Team of the Year, this time at wing.
Dane Gagai finished his first year in the Newcastle Knights with 12 matches and 5 tries.
Dane Gagai played in all of the Knights 24 matches, scoring 7 tries and kicking a goal.
Dane Gagai finished the 2015 season having played in all of the Knights 24 matches, scoring 7 tries and kicking 2 goals as the club finished last.
Dane Gagai finished the season having played in 22 matches and scoring 3 tries as Newcastle finished last on the table and claimed the wooden spoon for a second consecutive year.
On 10 June, Dane Gagai announced that he signed a four-year deal with the South Sydney Rabbitohs from 2018.
On 12 July, Dane Gagai won the Wally Lewis Medal as the player of the 2017 State of Origin series.
Dane Gagai became the first winger to win the official Player of the series.
Dane Gagai finished his last year with the Newcastle Knights with him playing in 23 matches and scoring 2 tries as Newcastle finished last for a third consecutive year.
Dane Gagai finished the 2019 NRL season playing 25 games and scoring 10 tries.
Dane Gagai played in the club's preliminary final defeat against the Canberra Raiders as the club fell short of a grand final appearance for the second year in a row.
In round 18 against Wests Tigers, Dane Gagai scored a try but was later sent to the sin bin after throwing the ball at Wests player Luke Brooks.
Dane Gagai finished the season with 19 appearances and 11 tries.
Dane Gagai played in the club's preliminary final defeat against Penrith as Souths fell at that stage in the competition for a third year in a row.
On 9 August, it was announced that Dane Gagai had signed a three-year deal to rejoin Newcastle in 2022.
Dane Gagai played a total of 23 games for South Sydney in the 2021 NRL season including the club's 2021 NRL Grand Final defeat against Penrith.
Dane Gagai played a total of 20 games for Newcastle in 2022 as the club finished 14th on the table.
Dane Gagai played a total of 22 games for Newcastle in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 5th on the table.
Dane Gagai played in both finals games as Newcastle were eliminated in the second week of the finals by the New Zealand Warriors.
Dane Gagai played 22 games for Newcastle in the 2024 NRL season as the club finished 8th and qualified for the finals.
Dane Gagai played in their elimination finals loss against North Queensland.
Dane Gagai re-signed with the Knights for a further two years.