SUPERMAN OF STEEL
Golden boy Gale bags top award as Tigers dominate the honours
LUKE GALE gave Castleford a pre-Grand Final boost by being named Steve Prescott Man of Steel on a memorable night for the club.
Daryl Powell was crowned Coach of the Year and the Tigers were given the Super League Club award after a dominant league campaign that saw them finish 10 points clear at the top.
Powell’s side must still win Saturday’s Old Trafford showdown with Leeds to lift the first title in their 91-year history.
But Gale’s accolade – voted for by his Super League peers – will give the scrum-half a further lift, after he kicked the golden point drop goal in the semi-final win over St Helens just 16 days after having his appendix removed.
He beat Tigers team-mate Zak Hardaker into second by 32 votes with Hull FC half-back Albert Kelly finishing third.
Gale led tributes to Powell after the coach developed his game following his move from Bradford three years ago.
Gale said: “I remember meeting Daryl for a coffee and talking footy for about an hour.
“I rung my agent afterwards and said I want to sign for Cas – after that chat I knew I wanted to play for him, and the rest is history.
“I owe Daryl – and his staff, who are outstanding – everything really. He’s taught me the skills of a half-back, and he’s made a superb team here.
“I can’t speak highly enough of him.
“When I spoke to them they’d just reached Wembley and I knew what sort of direction they were going in. He was very determined and I knew where he wanted to take the club and wanted to be part of it.”
Gale also recalled a less enjoyable spell as a teenager working as a labourer when opponents Leeds let him leave on loan for Doncaster.
Gale said: “I worked with my dad because it was only part-time. I was doing manual labour with him for six weeks and it was unbelievable. I say six weeks but my dad says I lasted six days!
“I told him it’s not for me and that I’m playing rugby, and it made me more determined.”
Wigan centre Oliver Gildart was named Young Player of the Year at the awards ceremony in Manchester, with the Warriors handed the Foundation of the Year prize.