Fleet-footed centre Dane Gagai's heart is in Newcastle, despite Queensland roots Dane Gagai at Newcastle training. DANE Gagai is swimming against the flow of talented NRL players heading home to Queensland. The Knights centre is so content playing under Wayne Bennett he has begun badgering father Ray to relocate the rest of the family to join him and younger brother Jacob in Newcastle. Queensland products Ben Barba, Daniel Vidot and Anthony Milford have recently pledged their future to the Broncos after starting their careers elsewhere. The chances of former Bronco Gagai performing a similar U-turn are remote, with the 22-year-old rubbishing any suggestion of homesickness becoming a factor. "I'm well past that now," said Gagai whose brother Jacob is trialling for a spot in the Newcastle under-20s squad. Having the younger brother here, too, makes it a lot easier. We share a place here in Newcastle, a little two-bedder and I'll be looking to buy my own place soon. Born in Mackay and schooled in Brisbane, Gagai is accustomed to making it on his own. After joining the Knights midway through 2012, he commanded a spot at right centre last season - and according to many was in contention for Australia's World Cup squad. Although Gagai was reluctant to discuss his representative claims, Newcastle great Danny Buderus was happy to argue his case. The recently retired hooker said his former teammate should be next in line for a Queensland jumper if Justin Hodges fails in his bid to return from a ruptured achilles tendon in time for next year's State of Origin series. Dane Gagai fumbles at Newcastle training. "He'll be close to rep honours," Buderus said. We picked Gags up by chance, but hopefully he'll be around for a long time. We can build our backline around him. He's young, quick, strong and can play a few positions. He's very talented. There's some greats in front of him but he's not far off. When Hodgo steps aside he's the obvious replacement. The three-quarter was on Monday named in the Maroons' Emerging Origin Squad. Melbourne's Justin O'Neill and Will Chambers were the other centre contenders picked in the fringe squad. "There's no point playing if you don't want to be the best and play with the best," Gagai said. But no one's approached me to talk about rep footy. At the moment it's just talk to me. I won't pay too much attention unless I get a call from someone who's directly involved at that level.