Re: IN 2020 | Luke Gale - Expires: ? : Tue Oct 01, 2019 1:09 pm  

AJC wrote:

The merit of dream team selection can be adequately summised by Leeds having two players included this year, a season in which we were almost relegated.

I agree Gale had a good 2017, playing off an excellent pack in games that ultimately counted for nothing other than the hub cap. In the challenge cup semi, the grand final and the internationals he was non existent. Man of the match against Saints was only because Percival forgot his kicking boots!

I sincerely hope Gale makes me eat my words but paying good money for a thirty something who hasn't played in a long time seems daft. FWIW I actually think Cas will go better with Trueman/Richardson - with the benefit of a few grand to spend elsewhere.

We didn't reach the challenge cup semi final that year, a playoff semi final is a big game as he got man of the match which dispelled your example that he never plays well in big games...

Re: IN 2020 | Luke Gale - Expires: 2022 : Tue Oct 01, 2019 1:44 pm  

I don't buy this whole thing that Gale (or some other players) "bottle it" in big games.

At Leeds we were used to a generation of players who could find an extra gear, but we still lost plenty of big games too.

For me Gale is an improvement on Myler, and therefore move on. Are there better 7s out there? Of course but we have other fish to fry, particularly one or two key positions in the pack and maybe an outside back.

Re: IN 2020 | Luke Gale - Expires: 2022 : Tue Oct 01, 2019 1:48 pm  

Apols if it's already been posted, the presser is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe9z_dT ... e=youtu.be

Apols if it's already been posted, the presser is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe9z_dT ... e=youtu.be

Re: IN 2020 | Luke Gale - Expires: 2022 : Tue Oct 01, 2019 2:04 pm  

I think this is a good signing for us, he can add so much, his deliveries of passes as Hurrell will be lapping it up and we could see him at his full potential, game management, the general organisation of our game will be better, our kicking game will dramatically improve, he kicks 40/20s for fun, if Rhyse is having a bad day, Gale is a great back up kicker. Also people slating him for disappearing in big game like the 2017 final, that was all down to Hardaker, he was the catalyst in that squad and if he played things would have been different, I still think we would have won because we know how to win finals and big games, but it would have been a lot tighter! People need to stop slating him and wait and see, he looks determined, he wanted this and I just hope the injuries haven’t taken their toll!

Re: IN 2020 | Luke Gale - Expires: 2022 : Tue Oct 01, 2019 2:52 pm  

Very interesting presser that actually. Myler clearly on the outer but he'll want to find a first team spot somewhere else you would think.

Reading between the lines, highly likely Merrin will go but we do clearly have irons in the fire.

Gale and Lui with McLelland as backup could work very well for us next season. If we can set the platform then those halves can link with our backline and we'll be a different side to play against.

Just hope Gale (and Ward) can stay fit through 2020 now.

Re: IN 2020 | Luke Gale - Expires: 2022 : Tue Oct 01, 2019 2:58 pm  

quote="batleyrhino"]Being controversial, Gregory looked incredible against poor athletes. He himself was never fit by today’s standards. I’d say that a direct comparison of him and Gale would favour Gale. If Gregory had access to today’s training methods, and could be bothered to use them, he could well have been the better player.

It’s nostalgic, but had to compare players of different eras.[/quote]

Didn't Gregory have a drinking problem whilst at Leeds...he was awful.

I agree.

Even in his pomp at Wigan Gregory would not have been fit enough to be carried by a modern SL team. That's not intended to disrespect his talent just the problem with comparing era's.

Re: IN 2020 | Luke Gale - Expires: ? : Tue Oct 01, 2019 3:03 pm  

AJC wrote:

Thoroughly underwhelmed. One reasonable season in the last 10 doesn't cut it for me, he's been invisible in every major game he has played. For all Myler's faults we'll miss his commitment and defence.

Don't agree at all with this.

Gale's success or not at Leeds will depend on two things - fitness/injuries and how much our pack has really improved by the start of next season.

But regardless of how he goes for us, his spell at Cas has been outstanding. Was the best British half in SL by some margin for several years. There were severap games where Leeds found Gale unplayable.

Re: IN 2020 | Luke Gale - Expires: 2022 : Tue Oct 01, 2019 3:39 pm  

I'll wait to see how he performs on the pitch. Heard this for years. Burrow wasn't good enough for some, nor Sinny or JJB.

Re: IN 2020 | Luke Gale - Expires: 2022 : Tue Oct 01, 2019 4:14 pm  

Poor signing especially for 150k but he’s probably no worse than Myler, he might lift you to 7th or at a push 6th but no more, he’ll probably end up the same as Watkins and be shoved out of the door after a few poor performances

Re: IN 2020 | Luke Gale - Expires: 2022 : Tue Oct 01, 2019 4:15 pm  

ryano wrote:

I'll wait to see how he performs on the pitch. Heard this for years. Burrow wasn't good enough for some, nor Sinny or JJB.

What we can say is this will be the side that KS built more and more, so anyone with an agenda there will at least have some real evidence in 2020.

Lui is a brave signing IMO. Gale also for different reasons - we’ve just lost previous captain and England shoe-in to knee injury; and our only other representative quality player has been busted up for years.

They must get Merrin’s replacement right if he does leave.