Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Thu Aug 28, 2014 9:40 am  

I agree he's shown glimpses of class, just not enough. I hope he goes well at Cas and i'd imagine a coach like Powell will get the best out of him.

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Thu Aug 28, 2014 9:41 am  

Bulliac wrote:

Decent organiser and kicker, though tends to become very ineffective behind a beaten pack. Not on his own with that of course, and it has been a bigger issue for us during much of the early season than I'd expect it to be for Cas.

This pretty much sums him up. Only thing I'd add is you tend to see gales best rugby when his contracts up for renewal. Hopefully you haven't given him a long deal as once he gets into his comfort zone he tends to be a bit anonymous. Stop him throwing silly passes and keep him concentrated and he'll do ok for you.

[Bullseye]

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:30 am  

Gale’s not had the most stable of clubs to play for and the past two seasons he’s played behind a pack of lightweights. He’s had a few knocks and a few off field problems too. Cas is bound to be more stable and he’ll have a decent pack in front of him. I think he’ll go well.

He does have some issues with his game that need sorting. He’s targeted in defence a lot as his technique isn’t the best (like a lot of halfbacks). He can defend really well at times but more often than not he’s a bit of a weak link. In attack he’s got a decent enough kicking game. It all depends on the space given to him since he’s not that quick. He’s not top class by any means but will do a decent job.

Hope we get a good replacement. Halfbacks are uber important.

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:00 am  

the timing of this announcement and tomorrows cannot be a coincidence. To get on the FA bandwagon, I agree totally with his assessment, Gale played really well against Wakefield when we actually had four specialist props with the loaned Kaufusi firing up our contracted props. check Gales stats for that game to see how he does with some go forward.

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:27 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

He's no great, but he's good, and much better than we have mostly seen.

I don't think he "goes missing" but he can't dominate behind a team that gets fifty put past it every week. I am not saying he is Wally Lewis but many don't like him just on general principle, and so unfairly blame him for many of our troubles, yet not even Lewis would shine in a team getting perennial and unabated mullerings.

He has had plenty of bad games and ineffectual games and most people - self included - have at times lost patience but overall he has been unfairly maligned and when he does perform, he does show genuine touches of class, regularly, what he has sorely lacked is consistency. He has had some poor games and done occasional infuriating things but i can't think of a game where he has hidden and "gone missing".

I am really pleased for Gale that someone as shrewd as Powell apparently agrees with my assessment of Gale as potentially a high class if not top-class SL halfback. I fully expect Gale to stand out in SL next season, and have confidence he will do so in a good team with a good go-forward pack. I've already prepared my "I told you so" posts.

That assessment will do for me FA.

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:35 am  

I'll be very interested to see how Gale goes next season at Cas, once he's playing in a (relatively) stable side with a shrewd coach like Powell at the helm.

If it transpires that we've replaced him with GoB then I'm fine with that. Not quite as happy with it only being a loan deal, but it's better than nothing.

Also, I hope the timing of this announcement means that Brook gets some first team action, not necessarily this weekend, but perhaps against Widnes and London.

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Thu Aug 28, 2014 12:00 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

He's no great, but he's good, and much better than we have mostly seen.

I don't think he "goes missing" but he can't dominate behind a team that gets fifty put past it every week. I am not saying he is Wally Lewis but many don't like him just on general principle, and so unfairly blame him for many of our troubles, yet not even Lewis would shine in a team getting perennial and unabated mullerings.

He has had plenty of bad games and ineffectual games and most people - self included - have at times lost patience but overall he has been unfairly maligned and when he does perform, he does show genuine touches of class, regularly, what he has sorely lacked is consistency. He has had some poor games and done occasional infuriating things but i can't think of a game where he has hidden and "gone missing".

I am really pleased for Gale that someone as shrewd as Powell apparently agrees with my assessment of Gale as potentially a high class if not top-class SL halfback. I fully expect Gale to stand out in SL next season, and have confidence he will do so in a good team with a good go-forward pack. I've already prepared my "I told you so" posts.

I pretty much agree with that, but for every "I told you so" post there's probably just as much rationale for an "it's about bloody time" post! I'd pin our upturn in fortunes and performances on Gaskell far more than Gale tbh, Luke still throws awful passes and blames his team mate who dropped it, or puts in a bad kick which puts the side under pressure in the wrong part of the field.

I think most of the ire was the notion he seemed undroppable, no matter how off his performance was.

Just to add, it's rumoured Scott Moore is also on his way to Castleford, as heavily rumoured as the Gale one. Does your theory that Powell is shrewd and that Moore will stand out also apply here? My point is a lot of fans don't seem to rate Scott Moore either. Not having a dig here, just wondering.

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Thu Aug 28, 2014 12:14 pm  

hindle xiii wrote:

...
Just to add, it's rumoured Scott Moore is also on his way to Castleford, as heavily rumoured as the Gale one. Does your theory that Powell is shrewd and that Moore will stand out also apply here? My point is a lot of fans don't seem to rate Scott Moore either. Not having a dig here, just wondering.

I don't think Powell is a particularly naughty boy, but I never argued that he's the Messiah. What I do think is Powell's record at Cas speaks for him. His team is far better than you would have said from its constituent parts, and that's the trick, it's a gift such as Peter Fox had in abundance. I'm sure he has a role in mind for Moore, and I reckon part of this particular trick includes the confidence that a player must get from being picked out as capable of fulfilling a particular role in a good team.

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Thu Aug 28, 2014 1:52 pm  

Given the paucity of class English HBs it wouldn't surprise me to see Gale knocking on the international door next season.

I think the announcement might have been made by Cas to try & soften the blow of Cas losing Clark to Wire.

[Bulliac]

Re: New Signings/Re-Signings : Thu Aug 28, 2014 2:14 pm  

tigertot wrote:

Given the paucity of class English HBs it wouldn't surprise me to see Gale knocking on the international door next season.

I think the announcement might have been made by Cas to try & soften the blow of Cas losing Clark to Wire.

He's been in the Knights for a couple of years and is still knocking...though I confess I'm certain he'll show up better in a side with a bit more go forward than the average Bulls' side of the last few years.