Why Hull FC’s Luke Gale could cop yet another ban

A former Man of Steel, England international and having won his boyhood club the Challenge Cup in 2020 almost single handed, there’s not much Luke Gale hasn’t done in a very accomplished career.

That’s why Hull FC fans were ecstatic to secure his services ahead of this season as Marc Sneyd’s replacement as part of the halfback merry-go-round with Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin replacing Gale at Leeds.

However, it hasn’t been plain sailing for the scrum half at the MKM Stadium with Gale missing over 60% of Hull’s games so far this season even being left out of the side last week against Champions St Helens.

Yesterday as Hull played Challenge Cup Finalists Wigan, Gale returned to the 17 and stepped up with a solid performance steering his side round the field and chipping in with three goals and a drop goal as the Black and Whites won 31-22.

But a hallmark of his season has been constant meetings with the disciplinary and another one may be an inevitability after he was shown a yellow card right at the death yesterday. The Hull skipper booted the ball out of play as the Wigan man attempted to play it in an effort to waste time and drag Hull over the line.

In the context of the game, it mattered little but was viewed as a professional foul and if decreed contrary behaviour he may cop yet another ban – the last thing Hull need as they look to build some momentum in their play-off push with their next game being a tussle with Wakefield in two weeks’ time.