Tigers’ bright future excites Luke Gale

Correspondent

Castleford half back Luke Gale believes that the Tigers are in great shape for the future, having shown their resilience and quality in Super League in 2016.

Gale was named as the Dream Team’s scrum half, and he believes that the way the Tigers dealt with injuries to key men in 2016 shows that there is great playing depth at the club nowadays.

“I think we’re in a great position,” he told Love Rugby League.

“Without injuries this year, it would have been a bit different.

“To finish fifth is a massive achievement, with some of the injuries to key players that we’ve had.

“We’ve blooded a lot of young lads.

“The thing with injuries is that it gives another young lad an opportunity to protect the shirt, and I think a lot of young lads have done that this year.

“It can only make the club stronger.

“We’ve had probably five different stand offs this year. We’ve had props playing stand off, hookers playing stand off.

“It’s been outstanding, really. There was a point when we were at Catalans, where I looked round and thought, ‘This team is really youthful.’

“That was a part of the season where I realised that this club was in good hands.

“It’s got some great young kids coming through, and I think we can only get stronger.”

One player who looks set to depart from Castleford is winger Denny Solomona, another player named alongside Gale in the Dream Team.

Love Rugby League revealed recently that the Samoan international winger is set to move to rugby union outfit Sale Sharks.

Gale thinks that Solomona’s contribution to Cas has been magnificent in 2016.

“He’s been outstanding this year,” he said.

“He scores some tries that he’s no right to score, and he’s probably the best finisher in the comp, if not the game.

“He deserves all the accolades he gets.”