LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
'It's bloody beaut to see him back': Jacob Gagai absolutely stoked to see Dane back in the Maroons side as the younger brother carves his own path in the NRL.
Jacob Gagai never doubted for a second that his big bro would claw his way back into the Queensland team, with both brothers now reaping the rewards of their impressive performances in 2024.
According to news.com.au, Jacob Gagai always held onto the belief that his brother would make a comeback to the Maroons squad, with Dane's recent red-hot form earning him a spot in next week's State of Origin decider.
Dane is expected to bring some much-needed aggression out on the field, a quality sorely missed by the Maroons in this series.
At the ripe old age of 33, Dane has been tearing it up for the Knights, scoring two tries in their gutsy win over the Raiders last week, solidifying his place in Billy Slater's lineup.
It seemed like his Origin days were behind him after being left out last year, but there's no denying that the Maroons have felt his absence keenly.
With 22 games under his belt, the seasoned veteran will be facing off against his Newcastle teammate Bradman Best, as the Maroons aim to come back swinging after being outmuscled by the Blues in Melbourne.
"He's got plenty of experience in the Origin arena, so I had a feeling he would make a return," Jacob commented.
"Honestly, after seeing how he performed last year and the exceptional form he's been in this season, I told him the other day that he's playing the best footy of his career."