'Two alpha males': Dane Gagai opens up on why he threw fists at Burton
Dane Gagai and Matt Burton have stoked a State of Origin fire that now burns with rare parity after Queensland’s victory spoiled any hopes of a NSW dynasty with a backs-to-the-wall series win.
Centre Gagai went toe-to-toe with Burton in a crazy Origin III in Brisbane on Wednesday, the pair sin-binned before the Maroons went from 12-10 down to win 22-12.
It was their ninth win from the last 10 Origin deciders and meant the series has been split 3-3 in the last six years and 2-2 since new coach Billy Slater last played in 2018.
“It’s Origin – just stepping up for your mates,” Gagai told AAP of his thought process behind the fight that landed both fines, but no NRL suspensions.
“Two alpha males just not wanting to back down, and it was on.
“My old man always taught me what happens on the field stays on the field and I’ve met him outside of footy a few times.
“He seems like a good man, so no hard feelings; he was just standing up for himself, I was standing up for my mate.”
Punches, blood, carnage. 🥊
Tensions boil over in Game III. 🤯
🖥️ The Decider | Exclusive, Live and Free on Channel 9 and 9Now.#Origin #NRL pic.twitter.com/eZimQV1emh
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) July 13, 2022
After Queensland won 11 of 12 series, the Blues hopes of creating their own dynasty were bright after new Maroons coach Slater and his assistants Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston joined Cooper Cronk and Greg Inglis in retirement.
But Queensland have played to the classic underdog Origin script, concocting unlikely series wins in 2020 and again this year despite the game three loss of star man Cameron Munster.
It sets up a juicy next chapter for both sides, given the fresh talent introduced in 2022 and the old heads like Gagai who still hope to play their part.
“For the next couple of years we’re going to be in for some good Origins,” Gagai said.
“I took it personally after we lost all of our key players like Billy, Greg Inglis, Thurston, all those big names, people thinking it was almost like NSW’s turn to dominate.
“So to get the win was so special.”
Ben Hunt, who scored a 70-metre intercept try to seal the contest, said there was respect between the sides despite the animosity on Wednesday.
“I wouldn’t call it anger,” he said.
“It’s passion and wanting to win. There’s a lot of aggressive boys going hard at each other.
“Origin is alive and well; the last five years (the winner has been) chopping and changing. It’s amazing, good for our game.
“I wouldn’t say (NSW) ‘don’t get it’ (Origin) … we were just going to give it everything.
“They’re (NSW) in a great spot and we’ve got a great side so they will be some good footy in years to come.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments