Gagai gives up centre pursuit for Bunnies buy-in

Dane Gagai has declared he couldn't care less about being confined to the wing anymore after admitting his desire to play centre proved a distraction in 2019.

Gagai cut a lean and mean figure at the NRL Nines in Perth having ditched post-training KFC and McDonald's runs from his diet over the summer, and spoke candidly of his renewed focus for 2020.

The Queensland Origin flyer has been linked to an early exit out of Redfern more than once over the last year, though Gagai has consistently said he has no desire to leave with two years to run on his contract.

But while he was signed by Michael Maguire as a centre on a lucrative deal worth around $700,000 a season, current coach Wayne Bennett has made clear his belief that Gagai best serves his side from the wing.

Gagai played 11 games on the flank last year after the arrival of James Roberts.

Now with Latrell Mitchell and an injury-free Braidon Burns offering further options at centre for Souths, Gagai says he has come to terms with starting out wide.

"Throughout the last couple of years, the first year I was at the Bunnies in 2018 a lot of our shifts were predominantly to the left and my role was pretty much kick chase, I got pretty good at that," he quipped.

"But then the second year my goal was to have a lot more involvement in attack but then I obviously got shifted to the wing.

"And I think I was focusing too much on trying to get that centre spot back. Now I think the best thing I've done this pre-season is just have a mindset of 'I don't give a shit' with where I play on the field.

"I'm just going to do everything I can to be the best player I can be and do everything I can to be the best player out on the field.

"Essentially that's what's going to help the team out and I'm going to enjoy my footy a lot more."

Gagai and Bennett cleared the air over his standing at the club midway through last year, with the 29-year-old told a release would be considered if he truly wanted to leave.

He was also mooted as a potential offering to the Gold Coast as the Rabbitohs tried to secure Jai Arrow a year early, but Gagai says his sole focus is on going one step further than 2019's preliminary final loss to Canberra.

"I'm here, I've always said it from the start," Gagai said.

"The talk when Jimmy (Roberts) was coming was that I wanted out then too, but that was never the case.

"Obviously my mindset was wanting that centre position but now I don't give a shit where I play.  

"No Titans. I'm staying here. I want to win a grand final and it all starts with me focusing on myself and being the best player I can be."

Gagai will also give the alluring fast food franchises of Parramatta Road a miss when he drives home from games at ANZ Stadium this year after cleaning up his diet in the pre-season.

"I'm trying to cut out giving myself too much of a window to take it easy after a game," he said.

"You tend to easily be able to swing through fast food places. But I've just cut that out, I'll have a good decent meal, a steak and chips or something like that.

"Not going the full greasy burgers after a hard session. Just making sure I'm top of all that and I'm feeling great.

"I've stayed the same weight but I'm a lot leaner and my strength's still right up in the gym so I couldn't be happier with where I'm at at the moment."