Great Dane ready to rise if Slater calls again

Billy Slater said it was "the hardest call to make" when he omitted Dane Gagai from the 2023 Origin squad, so to call him back into the fold for a potential series victory was a much sweeter conversation.

Brought back into the Maroons camp as 18th Man following an injury to Selwyn Cobbo, the veteran outside back will strengthen the Queensland squad as they aim to lock away the series in Melbourne and hold on to the Origin shield. 

"It was a phone call that was really enjoyable," Slater said of Gagai's return to the side.

“Sometimes it can go either way [with the 18th Man]. It's a position where you're in the team, but you're not quite in the team and for him to take it like a true Queenslander – like he's taken all the conversations – was great.

"I've got no doubt that Dane Gagai will be wearing a maroon jersey in the future again so I look forward to that day.”

Like the recalled Felise Kaufusi and Kurt Capewell, Gagai was named in the Maroons' pre-season camp for the start of the year, with the flicker of hope to wear a maroon jersey again a flame that never extinguished for the 33-year-old.

With 22 Origin games to his name, Gagai has taken on the new role of 18th Man duties with vigour, knowing how close he might be to returning to the field after Queensland were forced to call on the position just seven minutes into Game One when Reece Walsh was ruled out.

“That's the thing with 18th Man now. It's not like the old days when I was coming through where the 18th Man was where you just warm up, have a shower after they warm up and just sit on the sideline,” Gagai said.

“Now you can be activated at any time if anything happens and someone has to go off and can't return, then you get activated straight away.

“I'm definitely preparing as if I'm playing and I think by doing that, I'll help the boys get ready, whether or not I do get on the field.

“The way I help them prepare is just by training well and doing everything I can to get myself ready.

"The boys have shown in the last series they're more than capable so my way of helping the team is just training well and bringing a bit of energy and to let them do their thing.

“Whatever happens, happens. I'm just enjoying being back in the squad and just taking in every moment.”

Gagai – who became the first winger to claim the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series – has shown his versatility throughout his career and could play anywhere in the backline if called on.

With Cobbo missing, Gagai's positional flexibility and strong club form proved key in him remaining front of mind for Slater after his omission from the team last year.

“It was good to know Billy still had me in the picture," Gagai said.

"It's what we've always spoken about – earning this jersey no matter how many games you've played. I was trying to earn a jersey for Queensland again and I've been privileged enough to be able to represent Queensland again as 18th Man.

After playing 27 minutes in Game One following Reece Walsh's head knock, Kaufusi said Gagai wouldn't be found wanting if required in Melbourne.

“When I got the call that I was 18th man the first thing Billy said was, ‘make sure you are ready’ because the way the NRL and footy games are going, you might find yourself on the field – that was my mentality,” Kaufusi said.

“I was reminded about that at the start of the camp and in warm-up before the game. If I had any advice for Gags, it would be to prepare as if you are going to play, which is what we do anyway as professionals.

“It was Billy saying to be prepared to play and make sure that I was in all the meetings, whether it was the middles or the edge. There was a reminder in the warm-up to ‘make sure you are ready’. You have to be. If you get on, you have to do your job. It is big stakes. You can’t afford to cruise.

“I know it highly unlikely you get on as 18th man but look at what happened. You have to be ready to be play."