Black and Whites are facing tricky decision over skipper’s future
GALE IS IN FINAL MONTHS OF HIS DEAL
Hull FC will be thinking long and hard about recruitment and retention over the coming weeks. The Black and Whites have already tied down Jordan Lane and Connor Wynne to new deals this year and they’re making moves in the market with Jake Trueman thought to be one signing all but secured.
However, there’s still plenty of work to be done and with nine players approaching the end of their current deals, decisions must be made.
The pursuit of Trueman seems to suggest that Josh Reynolds could be set to leave at the end of the year, while there has been interest in Josh Bowden lately.
Joe Lovodua looks to have secured his future given his name was missing from the RFL’S offcontract list revealed by Rugby league Live and Cam Scott was purposefully coy when asked about his future last week.
Elsewhere, it seems a call will be made on Danny Houghton’s future later in the year.
How FC will approach Luke Gale’s future, though, remains a mystery as the 33-year-old approaches the final few months of the one-year deal he penned at the start of November.
The England international made an instant impact at the club’s County Road base after arriving from Leeds Rhinos, establishing himself as a leader and having a galvanising effect on the group in training with his personality and professionalism. As such, it came as no surprise to see Gale given the captaincy on the eve of the new season.
He hit the ground running, too, scoring a try on the opening day in a gritty and hard fought win over Wakefield Trinity at Belle Vue.
However, he has struggled for traction and form since with two suspensions seeing him sit out seven games in total this season and despite being available he was left out by Hodgson when FC travelled to St Helens earlier this month. At the time that decision seemed to give supporters an inkling into the club’s thinking regarding Gale, but the scrumhalf proved his worth by bouncing back well in the victory over Wigan Warriors.
He performed strongly against Warrington Wolves in April, but his showing against Wigan Warriors, alongside Reynolds, was probably his best in a Hull shirt to date and that’s something he’ll be keen to build on during the second half of the season.
The Black and Whites are well positioned in the race for a playoff spot at present and Gale will fancy his chances of being able to help Hodgson’s side achieve their goals this year.
Whether that would be enough to prolong his stay in East Yorkshire, though, remains to be seen.
No decision has been made just yet on Gale, at least not publicly, but it will certainly be something the club are mulling over at present.
Of course, one major factor Hull must take into account is who else is out there and available and it is understood the club have been scouring the domestic and foreign market for potential options.
Another thing FC will consider before making a decision on Gale is his relationship with Trueman. The pair worked closely together at Castleford Tigers and already have a deep understanding of each other’s game.
They haven’t been together since Gale left Wheldon Road to move to Leeds at the end of the 2019 campaign, but that knowledge and connection will still be there.
Gale’s age, experience, leadership qualities and wage demands will also be considered carefully.
Ultimately, though, the ball may well be in Gale’s court, and over the remaining 14 games he’ll task himself with trying to force the Black and Whites’ hand.