Luke Gale gives honest assessment of playing under Daryl Powell

Leeds’ Luke Gale spent five years with Castleford head coach Daryl Powell, with the halfback keen to stress that he owes his former boss a great deal.

“He was massive for me, he got me playing a different way and that culminated in the way we played in 2017 and the years leading up to that,” Gale said.

“He improves you as a player, no matter where you play. I owe a lot to him and he gave me really good tools to use for my career.

“I always wanted to be a Leeds player and come back, I said when I left that I had had five great years at Castleford.

“I felt like my time had come to an end there and I wanted to move on and grasp a new challenge.”

With the Challenge Cup third round draw throwing up an interesting tie between Leeds and St Helens, Gale stressed that his side wanted to beat the best, especially as there is a chance crowds could be back for the final.

“It’s a great tie, if you want to win the competition you’ve got to beat the best and there’s an onus on keeping the trophy.

“Obviously there were no fans there last year so getting here with fans is a massive thing we want to do.

“It’s important that we give ourselves a good go and go to St Helens ready.”

The feisty halfback was touch-and-go whether he would play against Wakefield at the weekend, but Gale says his appearance was more down to the fact that Leeds had few other options.

“I think there weren’t many others to play so I had no choice; I felt good, it was more the interruption to pre-season.

“I probably had one or two weeks pre=season which isn’t ideal, but I’ll use the weeks building up now as if I’ve been getting ready for round one.”

That lack of fitness was something which Gale alluded to, in an honest analysis of his performance.

“I thought I was poor really; I lacked match sharpness and you can tell that.

“I had a few brain explosions, seeing anyone on the pitch catch my kick except Tom Johnstone and I wouldn’t have minded, but he’s that quick, we had no chance.

Gale goes up against his former club on Friday night, but he wasn’t surprised that head coach Daryl Powell is moving on at the end of the year.

“We’ve got Castleford on Friday, its one of those that you look forward to and they look like they’re enjoying the rugby.

“I don’t think i was surprised (at Powell leaving); you have a time span at one club or organisation.

“Daryl obviously thought that it was the right time and it gives him time to move on and a different look for the club.

“He’s been outstanding for them and what he’s done for the club is remarkable really.”