Representative center Dane Gagai, who was previously connected to the Sydney Roosters, has officially announced his NRL future.

The 2017 State of Origin Wally Lewis Medallist, an NRL veteran with 276 games played since his debut in 2011, has made the decision to stay in Newcastle, where he will probably play out his career.

He has re-signed with the Newcastle Knights for a further two seasons, till the end of the 2026 NRL season, the team has confirmed.

But the last year of the agreement is a mutual option, so it will be up to both of them to decide whether or not to take it up.

The Sydney Roosters tabled him for a two-year contract, and that is when the confirmation came, but Gagai decided against signing with them.

“Dane is one of the best outside backs in the NRL and is playing as well as ever,” the club’s Director of Football Peter Parr said in a club statement.

“When you combine his on-field performance, experience and leadership, Dane is a highly valued member of our club.

“We think that this re-signing will help develop and improve future Newcastle Knights NRL players in addition to the current playing group.

“We are happy that Dane has decided to stay with the Knights.”

Dane, the elder brother of Rabbitohs winger Jacob Gagai and the cousin of former NRL players Josh Hoffman, Wendell Sailor, and Travis Waddell, has participated in 276 NRL games, scoring 356 career points and racking up 79 tries.

In addition, he participated in seven Test matches for the Australian Kangaroos in 2017 and 2018 and made 22 appearances for Queensland in the State of Origin from 2015 to 2022.