High-flying Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has taken the unusual step of going into bat for a rival player.
The long-time mentor, who’s guided the Raiders to top spot on the NRL ladder in 2025, believes Newcastle shouldn’t “think twice” about re-signing star Dane Gagai.
It comes after the 34-year-old produced another sterling effort in the absence of injured duo, Queensland No. 1 Kayln Ponga and heir apparent Fletcher Sharpe.
Gagai terrorised Canberra’s right edge at the weekend, inspiring tries and leading the side’s swift ball movement at a wet GIO Stadium.
It meant the first half was a see-sawing contest, with the scores locked at 18-all at the break, before the Raiders pulled away to win 44-18.
“You look at Dane… and he’d be the first one I would re-sign,” Stuart said.
“He was by far the hungriest, best player out there.
“He just never stopped trying.
“That builds teams.”
Gagai was dropped from his centre position in the Maroons’ State of Origin side this season and replaced with Roosters bolter Robert Toia and Dolphin Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Ironically, the pairing was Queensland’s most inexperienced, however they still made an impact.
And, while he shone in the first half against Canberra, Gagai was unable to reignite Newcastle in the second as the Green Machine scored five unanswered tries.
The Knights’ season is now all but over as they sit well adrift of the top eight, tied on 16 points with last-placed South Sydney.
As for the Raiders, they’re eyeing off the minor premiership with six rounds remaining.
Canberra doesn’t have to play any current top four opponents in the run home either.
If they win the minor premiership, it would be their first since 1990, when Stuart was halfback.
Sunday’s victory was also the Raiders’ ninth on the trot – the first time they’ve achieved that feat since 1994.
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