Dear Queenslanders,
For me, wearing the Queensland Maroons jersey is about representing my state. But it’s also about representing what it is to be a Queenslander.
To me, that’s honouring hard work. Growing up, watching my old man working on the railway for years, and coming home from work, and all the hard work he did around the house after he finished a full day of work… that epitomises what it is to be a Queenslander.
For him, that was him doing everything he could to not let our family down and provide the lifestyle that I had growing up.
And also mum as well, making sure I turned up to every training session and got to every carnival.
All the sacrifices they made, for me to be where I am, I guess that’s what I feel like Queenslanders are about. All those sacrifices and hard work.
Growing up, State of Origin was almost like its own special holiday.
On the Wednesday night, when Origin was on, we would all go to my uncle’s place, have a barbecue and sit around the one TV and cheer Queensland on.
It was actually Josh Hoffman’s house. We would spend it there because we lived about 50 metres away from each other growing up.
We always spent Origin at his and we’d have a feed and as soon as the build-up would start happening, getting closer, everyone would find a spot in the lounge, on the floor, and then there was plenty of screaming.
We lived out, where we didn’t have too close neighbours, out at Hay Point near Timberland, so our next door neighbours were a good while away.
We could sing out as loud as we wanted, but in saying that I’m pretty sure everyone else was doing the same in Mackay.
Now, being able to chuck that jersey on is a dream come true.
Rugby league is what we did growing up in Mackay. We always looked forward to Saturdays because that was footy day.
My old man was who really ignited my passion for rugby league, to be honest.
Obviously I speak about my favourite NRL player being Matty Bowen. He was my favourite as a kid, watching, when I was growing up.
But that was NRL... my favourite player of all time was my dad.
I would be ball boy for his games, get paid. I did four games– under 17s, 18s, reserve grade and A grade, and got paid $5 per game to ball boy.
I just loved being ball boy. I got to walk up and down the sideline and watch my old man play. He’s the reason I grew up loving the game of rugby league.
It always made me feel good if people came up to me and asked if I was as good as my dad or if I was as fast as him.
I still remember I was in Townsville when Instagram was coming in, I put up a post of dad, having brekkie with him, and I got a message from Wendell Sailor.
He sent a nice message through because he’s obviously a Sarina boy, saying he looked up to my old man. That was a moment for me, that I won’t forget.
Coming from someone like Wendell, who is legend of our game, one of the best wingers to ever play the game, it made me proud I have a dad like that.
Like I said, he’s the reason I grew up loving the game of rugby league.
For my first call up into the Maroons, I was actually in the lounge room and I got a phone call. I was by myself when I got the call up.
I tried acting calm, but as soon as I hung up the phone I couldn’t hold it in. I just started yelling and I was running around the house like a little kid that had just got a new toy.
It’s a moment I won’t forget.
I couldn’t wait to call up mum and dad and let them know. They were super proud of me. They told me they couldn’t be happier and that I deserved it.
I thanked them too, because like I said, if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be in the position that I am.
It was a great moment for me and my family. I was so glad I had them all there Game I.
Now, I don’t only want to be a good role model for young players, but also for my boys Dante and Cruz.
That’s what my dad was for me. He didn’t really preach too much about hard work, he just did it.
I grew up seeing it firsthand, so I know what actions can do, so I’m constantly acting in a way that makes my dad proud and is a good example.
Don’t get me wrong, everyone has tough days, but it puts a whole new perspective on things when you’ve got kids.
I guess the old saying ‘you never know who is watching’ … my oldest son Dante is at an age where he just watches everything and copies everything.
When I got that runaway try in Game I last year, he was sprinting around the house with his tongue out, slamming balls on the ground.
He watched a video clip of Usain Bolt and he has been sprinting around the house, doing the finger point to the sky.
He’s at that age now where he’s watching and picking up on everything, so obviously I’ve got to be conscience of having the work ethic that my old man had, which he passed on to me, and passing that onto my young fellas.
And just support, my dad never pushed me to play rugby league.
It’s obviously something he loved to do.
There was a year there that I played soccer. Yes, I played soccer and was a goal keeper.
I played goal keeper in Under 10s. I gave it a crack because yes, I liked rugby league, but I tried it because I thought I might like other sports, so I went and gave it a go… but I hated it.
I’m a fan of all sports, but playing the game, it wasn’t for me. I didn’t enjoy it, but in saying that, mum and dad made me finish out the year because I’d committed to the season.
I wasn’t allowed to quit because I wasn’t allowed to let my team down. I finished the season off and didn’t sign up the next year.
I went back to league. From then, I always knew rugby league was my thing.
Now, being part of the Maroons, there are different experiences that make me laugh.
Growing up as a kid I idolised all these players – Matty Bowen, Darren Lockyer, Thurston, Petero Civoniceva. Household names.
My sister showed me a video on Facebook of some little boy in his lounge room, that was posted, and he was running around calling my name.
I not sure where they were from, or where they grew up, but just seeing a little kid call my name was kind of like, I don’t know how to explain it, made me realise people know who I am.
I don’t feel like I’ve changed. I feel like the same person I was growing up and nothing has really changed, but then seeing a kid calling my name like that, I was like, that used to be me.
That was me, saying I was Matty Bowen, getting an intercept and running away. That there, was a moment that was pretty special to me.
I really appreciate all the support I get and have gotten over the years.
Obviously I had a bit of a tough run there in Newcastle for a bit, but no matter what team people go for, there was a lot of people sending messages, positive ones.
As athletes, we really appreciate it. I really appreciated it.
At the end of the day we are people and we do see these things and we do have feelings, so when you send through support, don’t think it falls on deaf ears. We do appreciate it.
As well as tough times, there is always huge highs.
For me, when I made that run, I was obviously excited because I, for one, caught it, and I had space to run, and when I hit the half way I knew our family, all our families, sit on that left side.
I wasn’t even thinking at the time, I was just reacting on feeling.
I was that pumped and looked over to them, but I had to snap back into it because I remembered ‘hang on, they’ve got a bloke in their team named The Fox’.
If you go through that frames you see me with my tongue out followed by looking up at the big screen going ‘hang on a minute, I’m not at the try line yet, I haven’t scored yet’.
That was a pretty special moment, but for me, my most memorable moment in maroon would be winning the Wally Lewis Medallion.
That was something I never thought would happen. I didn’t go out there for that.
As players we never go out there with the intention of trying to get accolades. It’s just about not letting your team mates down and that’s all I did. I was fortunate enough to get awarded the Wally Lewis Medallion.
I cannot wait for the next Origin series, should I get a call up.
Running out for Origin games is always the same, more so at Suncorp Stadium.
The stands are right on top of you when you run out, you feel the heat from the flames and hearing the roar from the crowd – it never gets old.
You just feel this energy rush through your body. The 18th man is definitely real – we do feel that energy and it never gets old.
The future of Queensland is definitely bright with plenty of young solid players and I’m sure there’s plenty more to come.
Bring it on.
Kind regards,
Dane Gagai
FOG #182
