Gagai confirmed starter for Queensland

Dane Gagai is a confirmed starter for Queensland in the second State of Origin game in Brisbane on Wednesday.

The winger has overcome a quad complaint and ran freely when he joined the main group at training for the first time at their Gold Coast camp on Sunday.

Forward Jacob Lillyman returned to training after missing Friday’s session due to a stomach virus, ensuring the entire squad were together for the first time.

However, halfback Cooper Cronk was in and out of the session as he battled the remnants of the stomach bug.

Gagai also came down with the illness that hit the camp, affecting up to six players for 24 hours.

Gagai will keep receiving treatment on the quad until match day and is sporting a thigh guard and strapping on his leg but confirmed he will start on Wednesday.

“It’s all good. I got up to a decent speed out there,” Gagai said after training.

“I felt comfortable and it didn’t cross my mind at all.

“All the pain and soreness is gone.”

North Queensland winger Kyle Feldt came into the squad last week as cover for Gagai.

Feldt will return to the Cowboys.

Gagai said he suffered the injury two weeks ago in Newcastle’s round 13 clash with North Queensland.

“At the very start it was in my mind whether I would be right, it was pretty painful and I couldn’t run properly,” he said.

“It would have been a tough decision to make (pull out).

“But I wouldn’t have gone out there and played for Queensland if I wasn’t 100 per cent right – I wouldn’t do that to the boys.”

Besides Cronk coming in and out of the session, the only other disruption was when the start to training was delayed by a group of kangaroos who refused to budge from the field.

After back-rower Aidan Guerra tried to herd them, Maroons assistant Steve Walters was forced to get into a buggy and move them on.

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