The curious case of Luke Gale.
The name seems to have been around forever with the man himself enjoying a brilliant second half of his career after starring in struggling London Broncos and Bradford Bulls teams.
In 2015, however, Gale made the move to the Castleford Tigers where he became one of Super League’s greatest halfbacks under Daryl Powell, settling the world alight and helping the West Yorkshire club to their first ever Grand Final in 2017.
Of course, memories of that day are not exactly the best for Gale and the Castleford club, considering that a dismal loss to a side that they had beaten by over 60 points earlier in the season seemed like such a waste of a final.
After struggling with a number of injuries in 2018 and 2019, Gale departed for boyhood club Leeds Rhinos where he was expected to become the lynchpin around which the side would follow.
And, for a year, that is exactly what happened with the diminutive halfback helping the Rhinos to a Challenge Cup success in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic which made Wembley Stadium deafeningly silent.
Following a disagreement with head coach at the time, Richard Agar, Gale was stripped of the captaincy and from that moment on seemed on the periphery at Headingley.
The signings of Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer for the 2022 season appeared to confirm that, with Gale making way and penning a surprising one-year deal at the MKM Stadium with Hull FC.
The fact that it was only a year also took people by surprise considering that he was entering into the twilight of his career and more job security would have been the plan.
However, there was a view in mind at Hull for it to potentially develop into a coaching role once Gale had hung up his boots.
That, of course, has not been forthcoming with Gale leaving and his head coach at Hull, Brett Hodgson, departing earlier this week.
That has left one major question on many peoples’ lips – where will Gale go next?
Wakefield Trinity has been a club which has been mentioned quite often in recent weeks and months as a potential option. It would ensure that the halfback would not have to travel as far whilst his experience would be vital for a side that has just lost the likes of Jacob Miller, Tinirau Arona and David Fifita.
On the flipside, Hull KR is also a club that has been mentioned in recent weeks, but where would that leave the likes of Mikey Lewis and Rowan Milnes as well as Jordan Abdull?
There would not just be three very young starlets fighting for a halfback spot, they would have to do so against an experienced playmaker.
That being said, bringing in Gale to Craven Park would be a way of stemming the tide of potential inexperience amongst the ranks and would certainly help the likes of Lewis and Milnes develop.
Truth be told, Gale is still good enough for Super League, but could Rovers have trumped Wakefield to his signature?
