Gale eager to blow away Kiwis
LUKE GALE is “desperate” to impress on his England debut today and cement a place in next week’s Four Nations opener against New Zealand.
England face France in Avignon in Wayne Bennett’s first game in charge and Gale will be handed his maiden start at senior international level.
The 28-year-old scrum-half has represented the second-tier England Knights on several occasions but, after two outstanding seasons at Castleford, his time has come on the biggest stage.
Gale was a non-playing member of the England squad who claimed a 2-1 Test series win over the Kiwis last autumn and is keen to finally make his mark. He will be one of a handful of debutants today and said: “It’s frustrating when you’re called into camp for a full series and don’t play.
“You’re desperate to get the call because you think you’re so close but it didn’t happen. It wasn’t a nice feeling but it can drive you on and make you more determined, so it wasn’t going to stop me.
“I’m desperate to get out there at last. Being in the 19-man squad is a bit of a dream but my attention has already shifted to getting that shirt on and fingers crossed I get the nod from Wayne. This is my chance to impress him if I play. It’s up to me to take it and convince him I can start in game one against the Kiwis.” Veteran Australian coach Bennett is regarded as the greatest-ever rugby league coach after winning a record seven NRL titles in his homeland. The RFL decided against renewing Steve McNamara’s contract after last year’s series win over New Zealand and instead broke the bank to capture Bennett on a two-year deal. His goal is to win the Four Nations and next year’s World Cup, with Gale confident the 66-year-old will live up to his billing. Gale, who is among a handful of players who have been picked in Bennett’s senior leadership group, added: “Wayne is such an amazing bloke. He’s really inspirational, has a nononsense approach about him and is very open about what he wants from everyone. You can’t help but buy into what he does.
“Winning the Four Nations is the goal and we know our destiny is in our own hands. The opposition may be worldclass, but so are we.
“We’ll show people what we can do when the tournament ticks around. It’s a thoroughly exciting group to be part of and I’m humbled to be involved with it.”
WIGAN, the Super League champions, are to take on Cronulla Sharks while Warrington will face Brisbane Broncos in the 2017 World Club Series.