“I practice most days” – Rhinos rehearsing drop-goals as Gale expects tight clash with Wigan

Leeds Rhinos scrum-half Luke Gale is expecting a tight encounter when he captains his side against Wigan in Saturday’s Challenge Cup semi-final.

Both sides have been in good form since rugby league restarted and are currently in top four positions in Super League.

And despite the Rhinos losing their last league clash with the Warriors 28-10 in August, Gale is expecting a much closer game this weekend and admits he and his teammates have even been rehearsing drop-goals, albeit with mixed results.

“To be fair, I practice most days,” he said. “We’ve had about 10 (players) do them in training this morning and they’ve been going in every stand.

“But it’s one of those, I practice all the time and slot a few after training.

“It will be a tight game. I think the weather will probably play a part as well so kicking game will be massively important.

“We’ve prepared well, we’ve left no stone unturned, so it’s just down to game time now.”

Saturday’s match will actually be Gale’s first-ever Challenge Cup semi-final.

The 32-year-old has never reached this stage of the competition but is expecting it to be just as tough as any finals game, despite how different this year’s schedule has been compared to usual.

He added: “I’ve played in a few big games. It’ll be intense like every big game is and it will be a different feeling to playing in a regular Super League game. I’ll rise to that challenge, the boys will rise to that challenge as well.

“There’s obviously no crowds but I think as soon as the whistle goes, you’ll know that you’re in a Challenge Cup semi-final against Wigan, who obviously are a tough side. They play with plenty of aggression so I’m sure both teams will come out swinging.

“Fans would be great, of course you’d want fans there. I’d want fans at the semi-final, they make the game, make the sport. It’s just one of those factors that just can’t be helped.

“We’d love them there, they’d love to be there but as times are they’re not going to be there. It’s disappointing but that’s life.

“Obviously we haven’t played as many games (in this year’s Cup). We played Hull KR in the quarters and we’re 80 minutes away from getting into a Challenge Cup Final.

“The whole season’s been different, the whole season’s been challenging. But winning a Challenge Cup is winning a Challenge Cup. No matter if it’s in 2020 or 2023, it doesn’t matter, you’re still a Challenge Cup winner.”