The Newcastle Knights are yet to make a call on the future of veteran outside back Dane Gagai, but it's clear he wants to play on.
Gagai is 35 this year, and will be 36 by the time next season starts, but the former Queensland Origin outside back has still been in solid form for the Knights this year.
Despite his age, he has previously stated he wants to play on, and his manager Steve Gillis has now told News Corp that the process of deciding his future and negotiating his contract is underway.
“We're working through it with ‘Gags',” Gillis told the publication.
“He wants to play on.
“He is 35 now but he is in great shape and a great professional.
“His dad played into his 40s in the lower levels of rugby league. Dane will weigh everything up. It's only early in the season so we have plenty of time.”
Whether he is offered a contract or not by the club for next year remains up in the air.
The club have Bradman Best and Dominic Young contracted for next year, as well as the versatile Thomas Cant, young gun Fletcher Hunt and Asu Kepaoa, while rumours have suggested Wilson De Courcey is set to sign a new deal.
Intriguingly, alongside Gagai in the off-contract basket as the 2025 campaign hits April is Greg Marzhew, with the power packet winger no guarantee of extending his time in the Hunter.
Newcastle's decision on Gagai may well be based on whether they believe the likes of Hunt and De Courcey are ready for regular minutes in the back five, as well as the long-term plans of Fletcher Sharpe, with questions still existing over the spine that Justin Holbrook will roll out in the medium to long-term.
Hunt and De Courcey will improve only when they get regular first-grade minutes. There is only so much improvement a player can make when playing in NSW Cup.
I’d suggest Newcastle need to give one or the other of those two some game time regularly this year – start him against “easy-beat” clubs to minimize the risk.