{"id":961585,"date":"2026-11-12T08:34:15","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T08:34:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/961585\/"},"modified":"2026-11-12T08:34:15","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T08:34:15","slug":"ageless-nrl-warrior-dane-gagai-on-cusp-of-remarkable-world-cup-achievement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/961585\/","title":{"rendered":"Ageless NRL warrior Dane Gagai on cusp of remarkable World Cup achievement"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dane Gagai is on the cusp of a world sporting<\/a> first, but the ageless New Zealand centre could be beaten to the punch by a matter of hours.<\/p>\n

A World Cup<\/a> winner with the Kangaroos in 2017, Gagai stands to be the first person to win their sport\u2019s pinnacle event with two different countries if the Kiwis beat the hosts in Brisbane on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Soccer player Louis Monti narrowly missed the feat when he lost and won successive World Cups, with Argentina and Italy, almost 100 years ago. <\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

No player, in any professional sport, has come that close since. <\/p>\n

But incredibly it could happen twice on the same night, with Kiwi Ferns prop Shannon Mato chasing back-to-back women\u2019s titles after lifting the last Cup with Australia. <\/p>\n

Approaching his 36th birthday, the veteran of 16 NRL seasons and 23 State of Origin games for Queensland is poised to make history at Suncorp Stadium. <\/p>\n

\"DaneDane Gagai is just 80 minutes away from doing what no other male or female has in world sport. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just a big game player; what he done in Origin his whole career and what he\u2019s doing now at this age,\u201d Joseph Tapine said of Gagai. <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how he\u2019s moving like that still, he\u2019s a freak. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the pressure gets high, he lifts to that and that\u2019s what you want.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Coach Stacey Jones has former World Cup winning player and coach Adam Blair and Stephen Kearney on his staff and has invited former players into camp during the tournament. <\/p>\n

But he said Gagai\u2019s influence had been just as influential on the hunt for their first title since 2008. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been unreal, Gags,\u201d Jones said on Thursday. <\/p>\n

\u201cExcited to put on the black and white jersey and represent his mother\u2019s side of the family and his experience to the group\u2019s been unbelievable.\u201d <\/p>\n

Australia pipped New Zealand 24-22 in their World Cup opener, with the hosts escaping thanks to several tries against the run of play. <\/p>\n

\u201cMoments hurt us and they took their opportunities,\u201d Jones said. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut both teams have improved a lot since then.\u201d <\/p>\n

Tapine thinks the addition of Gagai and inspirational fullback Kalyn Ponga, plus the kicking prowess of winger Jamayne Isaako, had transformed a side that always held their own up front. <\/p>\n

\u201cI always rated our forward pack but with people like that, with the skill and toughness … you have to start using that word when talking about KP,\u201d Tapine said. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Jamayne, when you score you know it\u2019s usually a six-pointer cause he can slot them from everywhere. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a special group and this is my third Cup, it\u2019s my last chance and I\u2019m going out to give it my all to put our names in history.\u201d<\/p>\n

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