High-flying Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has taken the unusual step of going into bat for a rival player.<\/p>\n
The long-time mentor, who\u2019s guided the Raiders to top spot on the NRL ladder in 2025, believes Newcastle shouldn\u2019t \u201cthink twice\u201d about re-signing star Dane Gagai.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Gagai terrorised Canberra\u2019s right edge at the weekend, inspiring tries and leading the side\u2019s swift ball movement at a wet GIO Stadium.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look at Dane\u2026 and he\u2019d be the first one I would re-sign,\u201d Stuart said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was by far the hungriest, best player out there.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just never stopped trying.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat builds teams.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gagai was dropped from his centre position in the Maroons\u2019 State of Origin side this season and replaced with Roosters bolter Robert Toia and Dolphin Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.<\/p>\n
Ironically, the pairing was Queensland\u2019s most inexperienced, however they still made an impact.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Knights\u2019 season is now all but over as they sit well adrift of the top eight, tied on 16 points with last-placed South Sydney.<\/p>\n
As for the Raiders, they\u2019re eyeing off the minor premiership with six rounds remaining.<\/p>\n
Canberra doesn\u2019t have to play any current top four opponents in the run home either.<\/p>\n
If they win the minor premiership, it would be their first since 1990, when Stuart was halfback.<\/p>\n
Sunday\u2019s victory was also the Raiders\u2019 ninth on the trot \u2013 the first time they\u2019ve achieved that feat since 1994.<\/p>\n
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