Very droll.

You're right - the dispensations would make it a waste of a marquee slot, and if Merrin goes we've got a chance to make good use of it.

Well it's official now https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2019/10/01/ ... 3zHtMMTx8w

Well it's official now https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2019/10/01/ ... 3zHtMMTx8w

Never rated him.

The merit of dream team selection can be adequately summised by Leeds having two players included this year, a season in which we were almost relegated.

I agree Gale had a good 2017, playing off an excellent pack in games that ultimately counted for nothing other than the hub cap. In the challenge cup semi, the grand final and the internationals he was non existent. Man of the match against Saints was only because Percival forgot his kicking boots!

I sincerely hope Gale makes me eat my words but paying good money for a thirty something who hasn't played in a long time seems daft. FWIW I actually think Cas will go better with Trueman/Richardson - with the benefit of a few grand to spend elsewhere.

Very astute signing for lots of reasons. He’s as good as any British half when fit (and has passed a fitness test), he’s a Leeds lad and will have pride in the jersey, and given his cap dispensations as Leeds trained he will not be expensive there.

Given he’s just effectively had 2 years off, we can reasonably expect him to go on to 35 or so as long as he doesn’t get any more serious injuries. The ones he’s had are just bad luck.

It’s solved a long standing problem for Leeds, now we need to fix the front row so he gets good service and field position. I bet Konrad Hurrell is happy...

Correct. Nice to hear some honesty from Cas perspective

Agreed. This not played for 2 years isnt correct though. He played 15 games in 2018 season

And was the reason it was realised that Golding is not a super league player, and when his Leeds career started to go back. He had a great game against us then.

Indeed

We didn't reach the challenge cup semi final that year, a playoff semi final is a big game as he got man of the match which dispelled your example that he never plays well in big games...

I don't buy this whole thing that Gale (or some other players) "bottle it" in big games.

At Leeds we were used to a generation of players who could find an extra gear, but we still lost plenty of big games too.

For me Gale is an improvement on Myler, and therefore move on. Are there better 7s out there? Of course but we have other fish to fry, particularly one or two key positions in the pack and maybe an outside back.

Apols if it's already been posted, the presser is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe9z_dT ... e=youtu.be

Apols if it's already been posted, the presser is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe9z_dT ... e=youtu.be

I think this is a good signing for us, he can add so much, his deliveries of passes as Hurrell will be lapping it up and we could see him at his full potential, game management, the general organisation of our game will be better, our kicking game will dramatically improve, he kicks 40/20s for fun, if Rhyse is having a bad day, Gale is a great back up kicker. Also people slating him for disappearing in big game like the 2017 final, that was all down to Hardaker, he was the catalyst in that squad and if he played things would have been different, I still think we would have won because we know how to win finals and big games, but it would have been a lot tighter! People need to stop slating him and wait and see, he looks determined, he wanted this and I just hope the injuries haven’t taken their toll!

Very interesting presser that actually. Myler clearly on the outer but he'll want to find a first team spot somewhere else you would think.

Reading between the lines, highly likely Merrin will go but we do clearly have irons in the fire.

Gale and Lui with McLelland as backup could work very well for us next season. If we can set the platform then those halves can link with our backline and we'll be a different side to play against.

Just hope Gale (and Ward) can stay fit through 2020 now.