OFFICIAL Dane Gagai to finish career at the Broncos

I know we need the bodies, losing Shiba, Anderson and Arthars. But I just don't want this to prevent us playing Mariner in the centres for a year, which I would assume it could. Gags isn't going to want to be extended bench/cup for his final year.

I really just want to see more of Mariner in the centres tbh, is probably my biggest concern with this deal.
 
I don’t watch a lot of other NRL games, but looking over at the Knights fan forum they seem to rate him still. I could live with a one year signing.
 

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NSW stables said:
79.9% tackle efficiency, which is worse than shiba's 82% this year who has been poor.

Avg 117m and only 2 tries. No thanks.
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That is surprising because he's been one of the better defensive centres but you've definitely cherry picked your stats.

Gagai - 14 games:
try assists - 8
tackle breaks - 78
line breaks - 8
passes - 274
tackles - 211

Shiba - 11 games:
try assists - 0, nada, nothing
tackle breaks - 17
line breaks - 2
passes - 160
tackles - 120

I know which one I'm picking that's for sure.
 
The Knights have said that they can't make an offer to Gagai due to salary cap issues (not surprising with Ponga and Brown each taking $1.4 million a year)

we have reportedly tabled a one year offer worth $250k
Gagai has received more lucrative offers from Sydney rivals and the UK
 
Super Freak said:
He's still playing well. Who gives a **** if he's 35. It's a one year deal until one of the younger guys are ready to step up.

People complain too much.
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Yeah we should just go out and sign Latrell Mitchell (people would complain about his injury history if we signed him), herbie, or Critter to replace Shiba smdh. They're not available next year and we're replacing a centre who was on 300k, but we should just cheat the cap and make them break their contracts.

Foordy said:
The Knights have said that they can't make an offer to Gagai due to salary cap issues (not surprising with Ponga and Brown each taking $1.4 million a year)

we have reportedly tabled a one year offer worth $250k
Gagai has received more lucrative offers from Sydney rivals and the UK
Click to expand...
How can anyone possibly complain if he signs for that amount? It's either a vet who has played for QLD and Aus or a green Verhoeven/ PCoates. If someone else is playing better than Gagai next year Madge will pick them, he's done it before when he dropped Cobbo for Shiba...
 
Given we're losing Shiba, Anderson and Jesse, that's a lot that needs to be replaced and so I can understand what they're going after in Gagai.

If I'm thinking of a list of criteria required in a recruit it's probably:
- Shiba as a starter will be replaced by Mariner (most likely) and there's a future player in Nio... so what we're really looking for is a new right winger.

- In terms of right wing Coates is the pathways player lined up for that spot... or Nio as a way to introduce him into the team before a centre spot opens up (i.e. Staggs spot or if Mariner leaves).. so you don't necessarily want the recruit to be a roadblock to those guys (i.e. the recruit needs to be starter level, but more like a stopgap for 1-3 years)

- Across Shiba, Anderson and Jesse... we're losing a starting back 5 player and the next 2 players on the depth chart. Shiba I think can be replaced via Mariner, but we're now effectively on the look out for 3 wingers... and in Jesse probably someone that can play wing and centre.

So in Gagai you have a guy that can play wing or centre, he's experienced and comes in as a starter straight off the bat, he's not a roadblock to Nio or Coates.

If Gagai is coming in to play right wing outside Staggs it's probably fine... we all know what Gagai can do on the wing. He can finish, he's a workhorse in yardage and he can defuse kicks... plus he's a right sided player.

The concern with him if he's the new right winger is speed... I haven't paid too much attention to knights games, but I recall him getting destroyed in defence at various times the last few years.

Does that become more of an issue if he's on the wing... or does it potentially become less of an issue.

I think the easy answer is it becomes an issue because you want speed on the wing, but centres are usually the more likely to be facing up 1v1 and getting shredded by their opposite due to speed... compared to a winger who's more about decision making.
 
I get the desire for Deine to go to centre but unfortunately there just isn't the wing talent on the market to facilitate that and Phil and Nio are way too green to fill internally. You also have to remember we have Reynolds retiring (will still be around the club) and Payne leaving, that's a lot of experience and leadership leaving. Hunt's re-signature I think has predominantly been about keeping some of that in the group still. I think Gagai is perfect for us to be honest, an experienced, low cost centre for a year that will do his job. You never know may even end up on the Wing outside Staggs and Mariner at Left Centre. Regardless I think a back 5 of Walsh, Karapani, Staggs, Gagai, Mariner wherever the latter 2 end up is a permiership quality back line and I think Gagai is a step up from Shiba, even at the age of 25. I think Shiba has been really poor this year and I don't have the faith he can emulate what he did last season ever again. Grant was a handy player to have but unfortunately he was collateral to our huge need to bolster the middle rotation.

Ins:
Jonah Pezet (27', 28', 29')
Mitch Barnett (27', 28', 29')
Dane Gagai (Rumoured - 27')

Outs:
Payne Haas (Rabbitohs)
Adam Reynolds (Retired)
Grant Anderson (Warriors)
Jesse Arthars (Catalans)
Gehamat Shibasaki (Rumoured)
Ben Te Kura (Presumably)

Off Contract:
Jack Gosiewski
Delouise Hoeter
Jaiyden Hunt
Josh Rogers
Billy Walters (Rumoured Re-signed)
Gehamat Shibasaki (Rumoured gone)

Re-signed
Ben Hunt (27')
Tom Duffy (27', 28')
Va'a Semu (27', 28')
Preston Riki (27', 28')
Antonio Verhoeven (27', 28', 29')

Rumours:
Dane Gagai (Close to done)
Luciano Leilua (interest)
Kaiden Lahrs (Offer on the table)

Off-Contract end of 27'
Phillip Coates, Ben Hunt, Corey Jensen, Josiah Karapani, Deine Mariner, Blake Mozer, Brendan Piakura, Jordan Riki, Ben Talty, Aublix Tawha, Benjamin Te Kura (if not gone already), Xavier Willison

Other than the shock loss of Payne I think the right decisions have been made so far. You can say old man army as much as you want but I think losing all 3 of Payne, Adam and Ben from a leadership point of view would be devastating to this squad of prim donnas. I'd like to keep Billy, Rogers (no great need for either but versatility and attitude is good around the squad) and with the lack of outside backs maybe even a Hoeter (although an injury magnet but reliable when fit and a no frills personality). I think the right players have been left to be let go and the right players re-signed. I do hope that Hunt has a roaming lock/bench half role in 28 and just let the next wave of halves and hookers come through. It's time to give Mozer and Pezet/Duffy there chance. Would love to get Kaiden Lahrs in addition to an actual second rower. Another 1 or 2 decent outside backs would be lovely as well.
 
I'm ok with this. There really is nobody available, so if this can help us set up for the future a little better than it's a good option. We need to be focusing on development pathways as we are being surpassed by Redcliffe in this sense.

But at least we are a successful fashion label now. Our priorities are dumb.
 
The issue with Dane is that he exclusively plays right-side centre so with Kotoni on the books you're left with this awkward situation. Dane isn't renown for his defence either so you're expecting a 36 year old centre to get it together for 24 games and protect Ezra.

If you sign him on a Hoeter deal with the expectation that he's going to work with these players in Cup that's one thing. However I'd expect him to be in the squad every week and I can't see it working out.

One thing with Madge, his taste in the outside backs was always questionable. Looking at some of his Souths teams, I was not shocked at all when he went Gehamt Shibasaki > Deine Mariner, I was shocked it worked out as well as it did but he's starting to get found out.
 
$270k, well can live with that if he's come to play wing. Don't want him stopping Mariner from the centre spot.
 
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