The Newcastle Knights are resolute on improvement following last weekend’s loss, and for utility back Dane Gagai, that effort starts with himself as an individual
“I’m going to do everything I can to give us the win on the weekend moving forward,” he said on Wednesday after training.
“Definitely now is a time for us to put our foot down and put onto the paddock what we’ve been working on here at training.
“I’m going to do the best I can to put us in a position to win games and I know there are a lot of boys in the team that are thinking the same way.
“We will get on the same page and I think it will go a long way to us winning.”
After last weekend’s Brisbane Broncos defeat, Gagai says the Knights are eager to put the experience behind them. They are equally driven to continue previous home turf success.
“We just want to forget about that one, move forward and focus on Manly this weekend and hopefully get the home crowd a win,” he said.
“It is good having that support of the fans, but we know wherever we go we have the fans watching and supporting us. We just have to do a better job than what we did last week.
“It all started with us in the Raiders game. We showed what we were capable of.
“We had another good performance against the Tigers. We want to try to be a big more consistent.
“We need to do that week in, week-out, stay focused and work together as a playing group.
“I would have liked to have a few more wins, but we still have plenty of time to turn that around."
When asked whether representative football is one of his current motivators, Gagai reiterated his commitment to the Club and believes his desire to be at his best in the red and blue will convert to representative selection if it’s warranted.
“I want to be the best player I can for the Knights, and as I’ve said previously, by performing, that’s the way you get selected,” he said.
“Whether I play on the wing, centre of fullback, I’m going to do the best job I can in that position to help out the team I’m playing in and that’s the Newcastle Knights.”
Meanwhile, he confirmed the rivalry between the Knights and Manly has flowed on to the next generation of players at the Club.
“It’s definitely there. I didn’t know too much about it before I came to Newcastle," he said.
“Paul Harragon let me know about that one. He was right into and we want to embrace that.
“We just have to focus on ourselves and going out there and doing a job.
“If we do that everything will come off the back of that."
Monday April 25 – Round 8
Newcastle Knights v Manly Sea Eagles
Gates open: 11.30am
NYC: 11.35am
ANZAC Ceremony: 1.50pm
NRL: 2pm
Venue: Hunter Stadium
Tickets: CLICK HERE
Game day information: CLICK HERE
ANZAC jersey: CLICK HERE
