Flighty Luke is in it for the long haul
LUKE GALE is desperate to avoid 24 hours of misery after tonight’s showdown between Castleford and Wigan. The Tigers’ half-back goes head to head with England team-mate George Williams hours before they fly to Australia together. It’s a long-haul flight that Gale admits will be tough for whoever loses at The Jungle tonight. Gale said: “It will be a great game and we need to win after losing our last two games. I also want bragging rights.”
The rest of England’s Super League-based stars fly out today for next Saturday’s Test match against Samoa in Australia.
But the Cas and Wigan players – Gale, Zak Hardaker, Mike McMeeken, plus Williams and Sean O’Loughlin – can’t fly Down Under until tomorrow.
It’s a flight that could get interesting, says Gale, depending on the result of tonight’s clash. He said: “Me and George ® are room-mates for England and we get on really well but we’ll be going hammer and tongs on Saturday.
“George has a really good running game which I hope he brings for England next week, but definitely not against us.”
Cas were left clinging on to top spot after narrowly losing to St Helens and Hull in their last two games.
Poorly
Gale said: “We lost those games by two points and four points because we started really poorly and gave ourselves too much to do.
“We’ve got to stop that and we know Wigan will be out for revenge because we beat them at their place a few weeks ago.”
Tigers coach Daryl Powell added: “Wigan are in better form than the last time because they’ve won three straight since. It’s a tough challenge and you’ve got to take your chances as they don’t concede a whole heap of points.
“We’ve lost three games all season, by a total of seven points, so we’re not far away. There’s no panic.”
Wigan have a raft of injuries and that’s been bad news for Shaun Wane’s wife.
The coach has been so consumed thinking of who to select, and where, that he’s been insisting on solitary walks.
He said: “I’ve been through all the different scenarios whilst out walking my dogs. My wife wanted to come but I told her I needed some thinking time.”
Half-back Tommy Leuluai is the latest to join the crocked list with a broken jaw, so hooker Sam Powell will partner Williams in the halves.
Mickey McIlorum starts at hooker with reserve No.9 Josh Ganson, 19-year-old son of RFL referees’ boss Steve Ganson, expected to make his debut off the bench.