Gagai weighs exit after Knights offer pay cut

Tobey Lewis

Gagai weighs exit after Knights offer pay cut image

Newcastle Knights veteran Dane Gagai is reportedly on the brink of walking away from the club after receiving a significantly reduced contract offer.

Gagai has been told that he would need to take a pay cut of around $100,000 to stay with the Knights beyond 2025.

"I've been taken for granted because they didn't think I'd move my family again," Gagai told The Newcastle Herald.

"The disrespect is the biggest thing."

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Despite the offer, Gagai's agent is in talks with at least two Sydney-based NRL clubs about a potential move.

"I know Adz [Adam O'Brien] still wants me around. He's made me captain, so I must be doing something right."

The 308-game NRL veteran signed with the Knights ahead of the 2022 season and has blossomed into one of the Hunter's favourite sons, despite his success in the Origin arena for their rival Maroons.

Knights faithful have even gone as far as starting a petition to keep Gagai in red and blue beyond this season which has received over 1,000 signatures.

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The club's roster shake-up has already begun with New Zealand international Dylan Brown set to join in 2026 on a mammoth contract.

Meanwhile, uncertainty still looms over the future of fellow veteran forward Tyson Frizell, whose 2026 option hasn't yet been picked up.

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Tobey Lewis

Tobey Lewis is a content producer for Sporting News Australia, specialising in rugby league and combat. In his spare time, he bemoans being the lone player from his high school rugby league team to not be an NRL star.