Jacob Gagai

{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}} {{Distinguish|Jacob Gagan}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Jacob Gagai |fullname = Jacob Gagai |image = Jacob Gagai.jpg |image_size = |position = {{rlp|WG|FB|CE}} |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|12|20|df=y}} |birth_place = [[Mackay, Queensland|Mackay]], [[Queensland]], Australia |height = {{convert|1.83|m|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}} |weight = {{convert|92|kg|stlb|abbr=on|order=flip}} |club1 = [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney]] |year1start = 2024 |year1end = |appearances1 = 17 |tries1 = 9 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 36 | club2 = [[Huddersfield Giants]] | year2start = 2025 | year2end = present | appearances2 = 38 | tries2 = 20 | goals2 = 0 | fieldgoals2 = 0 | points2 = 80 | new = yes | source = <ref>[https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/jacob-gagai/summary.html Rugby League Project]</ref> | updated = 2 May 2026 | module = {{infobox person | embed = yes | father = Ray Gagai | mother = | spouse = | education = | alma_mater = | relatives = [[Dane Gagai]] (brother)<br>[[Josh Hoffman]] (cousin) <br>[[Travis Waddell]] (cousin)<br>[[Wendell Sailor]] (cousin) <br>[[Tristan Sailor]] (cousin) }} }}

'''Jacob Gagai''' (born 20 December 1995) is an Australian professional [[rugby league]] [[footballer]] who plays as a {{rlp|wg}}er for the [[Huddersfield Giants]] in the [[Super League]].

==Background== He is the younger brother of [[Newcastle Knights]] player, [[Dane Gagai]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-05 |title=Jacob Gagai |url=https://www.nswrl.com.au/players/nsw-cup/south-sydney-rabbitohs-nsw/jacob-gagai |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=New South Wales Rugby League |language=en}}</ref> He is of [[Indigenous Australian]] descent from the [[Badu people|Badu]] and [[Yam Island]] people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2024-indigenous-jersey-reveiled|title=Rabbitohs Launch 2024 Indigenous Jersey Embodying Warrior Spirit|website=South Sydney Rabbitohs|date=9 May 2024}}</ref>

Growing up he also played rugby union.

==Playing career== ===South Sydney Rabbitohs=== Gagai made his first grade debut for South Sydney against [[Manly Warringah Sea Eagles|Manly]] in round 1 of the [[2024 NRL season]] at the [[Allegiant Stadium]] in Las Vegas. Gagai scored a try in South Sydney's 36-24 loss.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2024/mar/03/nrl-in-las-vegas-sea-eagles-vs-rabbitohs-broncos-v-roosters-live-updates-start-times-ticket-sales-scores-local-time-allegiant-stadium/|title=Roosters & Sea Eagles victorious – as it happened|website=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> In round 8 of the 2024 NRL season, Gagai scored two tries for South Sydney in their 54-20 loss against [[Melbourne Storm|Melbourne]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-25/nrl-anzac-day-warriors-titans-dragons-roosters-storm-rabbitohs/103764148/|title=South Sydney Rabbitohs' Anzac Day loss to Melbourne Storm made worse by Taane Milne's 'brain explosion' on Cameron Munster|website=www.abc.net.au}}</ref> In round 18, Gagai scored two tries for South Sydney in their 32-16 victory over [[Parramatta Eels|Parramatta]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-round-18-live-parramatta-eels-v-south-sydney-rabbitohs-20240704-p5jr1f.html/|title=Moses frustration hits boiling point as Eels sink to fourth-straight loss|website=www.smh.com.au}}</ref> The following week, he scored a [[hat-trick]] in South Sydney's 36-28 loss against the [[Dolphins (NRL)|Dolphins]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/rabbitohs-go-down-to-dolphins-in-see-sawing-affair-at-kayo-stadium/|title=Rabbitohs go Down to Dolphins in See-Sawing Affair at Kayo Stadium|website=www.rabbitohs.com.au}}</ref> Gagai played 17 games for the club in the 2024 season and scored nine tries as they finished 16th on the table.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2024-the-mole-exclusive-south-sydney-rabbitohs-season-review-latrell-mitchell-20240907-p5k8qx.html/|title=The Mole's end of season review: What went wrong at the South Sydney Rabbitohs?|website=www.nine.com.au}}</ref> On 23 October 2024, Gagai was told his services were no longer required by the South Sydney club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/the-mole-news-2024-jacob-gagai-south-sydney-rabbitohs-contract-20241024-p5kkwx.html/|title=The Mole: 'Unlucky' South Sydney rookie Jacob Gagai cut by Bunnies despite leading club's try scoring|website=www.nine.com.au}}</ref>

===Huddersfield Giants=== On 14 November 2024, it was announced that Gagai had signed a two-year contract with [[Huddersfield Giants|Huddersfield]] in the [[Super League]].<ref>{{cite web|title=South Sydney outside back Gagai completes super league move|URL=https://www.totalrl.com/south-sydney-rabbitohs-outside-back-jacob-gagai-completes-super-league-move|access-date=14 November 2024|work=totalrl.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cn8gjrl9rpdo|title=Huddersfield sign utility back Gagai|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=15 November 2024}}</ref> Gagai played 26 games for Huddersfield in the 2025 Super League season as the club finished 10th on the table.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/huddersfield-giants-coach-sounds-nrl-warning-as-honest-admission-made-over-2025-shortcomings/|title=Huddersfield Giants coach sounds NRL warning as honest admission made over 2025 shortcomings|website=www.loverugbyleague.com}}</ref>

== Statistics == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |- |2024 |{{leagueicon|South Sydney|16}} [[South Sydney Rabbitohs]] |17 |9 |36 |- |2025 | rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|huddersfield|16}} [[Huddersfield Giants]] |26 |11 |44 |- |2026 |9 |6 |24 |- | |Totals |52 |26 |104 |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/teams/teams-details?id=1559&league=111 South Sydney Rabbitohs profile] *[https://www.nrl.com/players/all-stars/new-zealand-maori-kiwis/jacob-gagai/ Maori profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gagai, Jacob}} [[Category:1995 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Australian rugby league players]] [[Category:Huddersfield Giants players]] [[Category:Rugby league centres]] [[Category:Rugby league players from Mackay, Queensland]] [[Category:South Sydney Rabbitohs players]] [[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]