Luke Gale reveals when he might retire from rugby league

Tonight Luke Gale will make his debut for Keighley Cougars against the Featherstone Rovers like on ViaPlay Sports.

The halfback’s move was one of the biggest shocks of the winter as the former Man of Steel and Challenge Cup Final hero left Hull FC for the Cougars having been one of Super League’s best players during his time at Castleford Tigers and Leeds Rhinos.

Looking ahead to this next chapter, Gale spoke to the Sportsman and expressed excitement ahead of the new season and hinted that retirement isn’t far ahead:

“I’m looking forward to it, it’s almost the next step. Could it probably be the last step of the journey in rugby league, really looking forward to playing my final couple of years in the Championship with Keighley.

“Wherever I sign there’s always going to be pressure but I put myself under that pressure. I got asked earlier if I thought I’d have a target on my head, I always seem to have a bit of a target but it’s definitely not a holiday in the championship.

“It’s tough but it’s going to be enjoyable, Rhys Lovegrove our coach is a real forward thinking coach, that was one of the main attractions to come to Keighley.

“It’s kind of the final leg of the journey, the minute I retire will be when there’s no fire left inside me but there’s plenty of fire left. We just want to kind of add to the championship and play some good footy along the way as well.”

He also compared Super League with what he expects from the Championship in 2023:

“The speed of the game might be a bit slower but the collisions are definitely up there. I think there’s expectation and that’s good and healthy, we want that. We’re not here to make up the numbers. Obviously Leigh spent a lot of money and so have Featherstone so they’ll probably be odds on, but it does look an open competition outside of them, but it’s up for grabs and that’s an exciting proposition. ”