South Sydney have looked to keep their premiership window open after confirming the signing of Newcastle star Dane Gagai on a four-year NRL deal.
The announcement on Saturday comes three weeks after the struggling Knights confirmed Gagai would be leaving the club at season’s end.
Gagai’s arrival for next season will add to the expected return of Rabbitohs skipper Greg Inglis after his knee reconstruction and gives coach Michael Maguire another elite option at fullback, wing and centre.
“Dane is one of the best outside backs in the competition and he has played plenty of football at the elite levels of the game in a variety of positions across the backline,” Maguire said.
“His ability and versatility on the field will be matched by the experience he will be able to bring to the young backs in our squad off the field.
“Plus he has the added experience of putting in the hard work to reach State of Origin level at this stage of his career.”
Gagai, 26, has played 124 NRL games since his debut for Brisbane in 2011, with 119 of those for the Knights. He has represented Queensland six times since his Origin debut in 2015.
“He’s a man of great character and has leadership qualities that he will bring to the club too,” ,” Maguire said.
“He’s also very active in the indigenous community and he will fit in well with the community programs and initiatives run by Souths Cares.”
The signing of Gagai comes as Souths assess their crop of off-contract players in the backline, including regular first-graders Bryson Goodwin, Aaron Gray and Alex Johnston.
Forwards Robbie Rochow, John Sutton and David Tyrell are also without deals for next year.
steveng
Roar Rookie
How many of the Souths players that have been let go??? That have turned out to be exceptional players at other clubs!!! Me thinks MANY!!! And letting more go, will be the same. Its not the calibre of the players, me thinks, its the culture at Souths that has and have destroyed and disillusioned many players. That is the problem.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
When you start debating the merits of your team on should've and could've is when you need to take a step back and get a new prescription for your coloured spectacles. Penrith had been absolutely blasted by the media left right and centre until they started putting wins together recently. Manly and Easts despite the odd hiccup are in or around the top 4 and have been pretty much the whole year. They have been criticised here and there (mostly for being inconsistent or for playing games in patches) but are still winning. Souths on the other hand are playing an uninspired, smash em up style where their only set play is second man to second man or Burgess running at the smallest player on the field.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Many thanks for Dylan Walker. Very much appreciated.
kingcowboy
Guest
Come on hats, Souths have been ordinary this year, to me the media coverage has been fair. They seem old and slow. I know the Tigers are paying a fair bit for Robbie but Cook should be their nine IMO. I hope GI comes back good for you guys next year, been great to watch him play.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
The Gagai signing is a good one, Souths need some penetration out wide. The James Maloney Rumours won’t go away in the media. There is nothing internally so I doubt that he will be with us in 2018 I am sure that Cody Walker will be a priority when the final Salary Cap amount is decided upon. Most likely $9.5M for 30 players. With Goodwin gone now and Gray most likely to go Gagai on the left and Hunt on the right should be good. Many don’t realise this but Hunt is still only a Rookie having played only 26 games in First Grade to date. I really find it hard to believe that the Sharks have offered Aaron Gray a 3-year contract worth $1.3M That is almost double in which he is on at present… I still hold out hope that Johnston will stay. IF the media reports are accurate about the Dragons offering AJ $700k per season, WHY then hasn’t he signed? My info is that Matt Dufty is being groomed to take over Dugan at Fullback. AJ is waiting to see what the final Cap figure will be as Souths may offer him a bit more than what we did last February. Wingers are needed: I expect Braidon Burns to improve. I haven’t given up hope that Damon Goolagong may be offered a development contract. Campbell Graham will be a name that may pop up in First Grade next season. http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/team/profiles/campbell_graham.html We have 9 very good young blokes coming through the Juniors, the 20s 1 Fullback, 2 Wingers, 1 Centre, 1 Hooker, 1 Half/5/8, 2 Props and 1 Edge player. Most of them are still very young at 18 and 19 and may need time at Norths they should be ready for 2019 but the forwards in 2020. Last Season Shane Richardson’s plan was building towards 2018-19 as the breakout year. We didn’t really expect 2017 to be that year. At Norths, there are probably only 4 players on Part time contracts that may make it in first grade. That is NOT counting the Souths contracted players who play there week in and week out. Souths are at 4 wins and 9 losses but 2 of those games, we were robbed and 2 others we should have won so the win/loss figure could well have been different. At least 6 and 7 and still in the hunt. Many other clubs have had pathetic performances this season, yet Souths seem like the ONLY club being lambasted by the Pro- Manly, Easts, Penrith... Sydney Media.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Lady Gagai won't change the wuckwess wabbits fortunes.
Chris n
Guest
Yeah Gagai was confirmed weeks ago, Guerra has already signed apparently hopefully a change of club will be good for him as his form has been down. What Newcastle really need is props a marquee prop and one or two solid players would be great.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Agree WB. I actually thought it was confirmed months ago. He is a great signing for Souths. You do wonder how the Knights will get off the bottom in the foreseeable future. I think they will sign Guerra which is ok I guess. But there will be way too much pressure on Ponga to hit the ground running from Round 1. It could potentially ruin his very promising career.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Gagai to Souths has been on the go for a while now. It's tough for the Knights no doubt but wouldn't be a real surprise.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Jeez the Knights would be devastated by this news. Gagai is just about their best player. Poor buggers can't take a trick.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Very good signing for Souths, they desperately lack spark out wide and he will bring that in spades. GI back to fullback and Cody back to 5/8, that is a backline with points. All the guys mentioned with out a contract next year, I would move most of them on. I would keep AJ ( at right price only ) and Bryson for his versatility.