Luke Gale debut confirmed as Sean Long makes big decisions

Today one of Super League’s biggest stars of recent years will make his debut for one of the Championship’s newest team.

Former Man of Steel winner at Castleford Tigers, a Challenge Cup Final hero at Leeds Rhinos, Luke Gale will debut for Keighley Cougars tonight after joining from Hull FC.

The Cougars were unbeaten in the league in 2022 as they earned promotion but tonight take on the favourites for Super League promotion Featherstone Rovers.

The game kicks off at 19:45 at Cougar Park today.

You can watch the game live on Viaplay TV from 19:15. This is the renamed Premier Sports channel. You can also watch the game on the app or online.

For those down under the game will also be shown on Fox.

Gale starts at seven on debut alongside former Featherstone man Dane Chisholm in the halves who meets his former club for the first time since his mid season move in 2022.

Former Hull KR man Ben Crooks also debuts as does Sadiq Adebiyi formerly of Wakefield Trinity.

As for Sean Long he has made some big calls in naming new signing Caleb Aekins at fullback ahead of Brandon Pickersgill whilst new signing Kyle Evans misses out on the wing with Luke Briscoe and Gareth Gale named.

New halfback Thomas Lacans misses out as the on loan Riley Dean from Warrington Wolves and Johnathan Ford start instead.

McKenzie Yei debuts off the bench with Mathieu Cozza at 13.

Here’s their team in full:

Locked in for opening night against the Cougars! 🔒#KEIvFEV | #BlueWall pic.twitter.com/4ChwDAezEB

— Featherstone Rovers (@FevRoversRLFC) February 6, 2023