Luke Gale: We are only going to get better

Leeds captain Luke Gale believes the Rhinos’ Challenge Cup triumph can herald the start of a new dynasty for the club.

The England scrum-half kicked a drop goal five minutes from the end of Saturday’s game at Wembley to secure a thrilling 17-16 victory over Salford and with it Leeds’ first Cup success for five years.

The Rhinos won back-to-back Wembley finals in 2014 and 2015 and were Super League champions six times in 11 years up to 2017 thanks largely to the club’s golden generation.

They struggled to fill the void created by the departure of Kevin Sinfield and Danny McGuire and the retirement of Jamie Peacock and Rob Burrow, but Gale says under coach Richard Agar they once more stand on the threshold of greatness.

“I don’t think this is the first,” Gale said. “It’s a young team and we’re only going to get better.

“I think it’s only my 12th game for Leeds, it’s a new team. Rich Agar is a bit of an unsung hero for what he has done for this team.

“They got dished up by Bradford last year so to go on and win the Challenge Cup the following year just shows what a great job he’s done.

“He won’t take any credit for it but I’m going to give him credit, he’s fantastic.

“You turn up with a smile on your face every day, he has so much belief in the young boys and so much belief in us.”

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