Wakefield's Luke Gale thought he'd have to retire before stunning return

31 July 2023 , 16:50

904     0

Luke Gale leads the celebrations after Liam Hood's try puts Wakefield further ahead against Warrington (Image: PA)

Wakefield's crocked Luke Gale thought he was retiring barely three weeks ago - before buying a new pair of boots and outshining England captain George Williams.

The veteran scrum-half, 35, was in inspired form as bottom-placed Trinity stunned Warrington 42-6 on Sunday. It has hugely boosted their chances of avoiding relegation - and cost Gale’s former Castleford boss Daryl Powell his job as Wolves coach. But the ex-England No7 revealed he felt his career was over after a freak training ground accident forced him to miss Trinity’s previous two games.

Gale admitted: “I honestly thought I was retired. I looked down and my ankle was massive. It looked like a fracture straight away. It swelled up and it was that bad that I nearly got carried off! I even cut my boot off. I didn’t have any boots to play in so I had to buy some more!

“The lads were laughing their heads off when we realised it wasn’t that bad at all and I'd be back playing in three weeks. I got a lot of stick for it. I’m really lucky. It still doesn’t feel great but it was good enough to play.”

With hooker Liam Hood outstanding and Max Jowitt excelling at full-back in his 100th Super League appearance, Gale linked in to help pick shambolic Warrington apart on the same Belle Vue pitch where weeks earlier he’d been left crumpled in agony.

Frenchie 'obsessed' with actor Henry Cavill and has shrine dedicated to him

Gale's ankle was left swollen after the freak injury

Gale got the better of England star Williams (PA)

His kicking game and distribution was spot on and left Wolves’ own fit-again half-back Williams in the shadows. And Gale revealed what had spurred him on.

The ex-Man of Steel explained: “All the talk in the week was about George being back from his injury. I heard that and I do have an intrinsic drive: George is such a good player - England half, England captain - but that made me feel like ‘I’m back.’ That’s how I went into the game. It probably did get me up. Not that you ever need to get up for these games. But it did. I had that in my head all week. And we played great so I’m really proud.”

Wakefield Trinity's Luke Gale takes on Warrington (John Clifton/SWpix.com)

It was only Gale’s third game since joining from part-timers Keighley in May given a groin injury delayed his debut. But he's helped garner two wins and Trinity have now clawed back a six-point deficit to draw level with Castleford who they face in an August 18 crunch showdown. On Sunday they head to Hull, where Gale spent a difficult season last year, bidding for a first away win of the campaign.

He joked: “I should get a good reception! I’m looking forward to it. It’s always a hostile environment. But let’s go. I'm looking forward to it. The way we played against Warrington is how we trained all week and that’s a benchmark for us now. Wakefield always get better towards the back end of the season. They finish strong. If we can carry that on until the end I think we’ll be OK.”

David Craven