What Gagai just said on ‘unacceptable’ Broncos exit & 2027 prediction

Dane Gagai has opened on his ‘devastating’ Brisbane Broncos exit and his aims for the 2027 NRL campaign.

Gagai is one win away from Premiership glory with the Newcastle Knights, who face the Sydney Roosters in the Grand Final on Sunday night.

The 35-year-old has rolled back the years during a remarkable 2026 campaign, with Broncos fans hoping he continues his form into 2027 after signing a one-year deal to return to Suncorp Stadium.

Gagai admits that his 2011 exit from Brisbane still haunts him, but has also driven him to a fantastic career over the last 15 years.

Gagai on ‘unacceptable’ Broncos exit

Recalling his sacking by the Broncos, Gagai told the Courier Mail: “I actually got man of the match for the Dolphins (in Queensland Cup), and the Broncos called me into the office.

“I thought, ‘Sweet, I’m being called back into the first grade side here. Then I walked in. I saw ‘Whitey’ (Paul White), the CEO, and Anthony Griffin, and I was like, ‘OK, this doesn’t look good’.

“They told me I was being let go. I was devastated and disappointed. But then my mindset turned to, ‘OK, well there will be a chance for me somewhere else. I’m going to get picked up by someone, and I’m going to show these guys they shouldn’t have let me go’.

“I was coming late to training. It wasn’t me partying and being on the drink. I just stayed up having some late nights.

“’Hook’ (Griffin) also wanted me to put on weight and bulk up, and I just couldn’t put on weight. I was doing all sorts of things to try and get bigger.

“I was sleeping through alarms, and I’d be tired as all hell in meetings, and I’d start nodding off. Looking back, it wasn’t acceptable.

“But I was also very young at the time. I felt it wasn’t fair, but looking back, it is what it is, and if it didn’t happen to me, who knows where my career would have ended up.

“But I am grateful for what’s happened, and now I get an opportunity to go back to the Broncos and finish on the right note.”

Gagai on 2027 aims with Broncos

Gagai will be 36 by the time he takes the field for the Broncos, but insists he has plenty left in the tank.

“I use a lot of things as motivating factors, and I want to prove I’m not done at the Broncos,” Gagai added. “I want to have an impact when I go there – I’m not going there to play reserve grade.

“I’m not going to think about retirement based off the number on my birth certificate. I put it down to how the body is feeling and how am I mentally feeling about turning up to training and doing pre-seasons.

“I’m being honest when I say I don’t feel I’m slowing down, so I won’t retire for the sake of it.”