McNamara gives Bradford Bulls ace Gale World Cup spur (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Steve McNamara gives Bradford Bulls ace Luke Gale World Cup spur
7:00am Saturday 3rd November 2012 in Bulls
Exclusive By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter
Steve McNamara says Luke Gale possesses the qualities needed of an England scrum half
England boss Steve McNamara has revealed that Bulls scrum half Luke Gale is on his 2013 World Cup radar.
Gale enjoyed an outstanding debut campaign at Odsal and impressed again for the second-tier England Knights at the end of the season.
The 24-year-old helped inspire Kieron Purtill’s side to victory in the recent Alitalia Cup following victory over Ireland before injury ruled him out of last weekend’s clash with Scotland.
After signing a new three-year deal to keep him at Bradford until the end of 2015, Gale spoke of his desire to progress from the Knights into McNamara’s elite training squad.
And McNamara has confirmed that the former Harlequins man will continue to be monitored closely next term ahead of the 2013 World Cup, along with England academy captain John Bateman.
The former Bradford boss told the T&A: “Luke is a great character and it’s fantastic for the Bulls that they have managed to secure his future for the next three years.
“They’re clearly looking to build their team around him and he has the sort of qualities that we are looking for with England.
“Luke played for the Knights twice at the end of the 2011 season but then missed out during the mid-season games. Every player at some stage of their career is going to suffer setbacks but it’s how you react to them.
“International players tend to overcome those obstacles and find a way of coming back a better player for it. Luke has certainly done that.
“Could Luke push for the World Cup? I think everybody who’s involved in any of our programmes – the Knights and the elite training squad – will come into consideration.
“I’d also say there are probably two or three players, John Bateman being one, in the Under-18s academy side with the potential to push into this group.
“You find it’s that pressure coming from the bottom that squeezes players out at the top.
“Luke is definitely in that category and if he continues to impress for the Knights then he will be considered.”
McNamara says he has been impressed by the manner in which Gale reinvented himself after leaving Leeds before eventually making the grade as a Super League player.
“As I said, Luke’s got a great attitude and he’s done it the tough way,” added McNamara.
“He’s not been a superstar kid who has gone straight into the first-team and had everything his own way.
“He went to Doncaster and Harlequins, fighting hard to find a niche.
“You’ll find these guys often become the best international players because they don’t roll over and they don’t give in. They find a way to get past good teams.”
Ross Heppenstall
Comments(18)
topbombing
says...
8:50am Sat 3 Nov 12
Archie's Ghost wrote:Zzzzzzzz
The worst coach in Super League history.
And he gets the England job!
-HCK3R-
says...
9:25am Sat 3 Nov 12
Mumby was the best
says...
9:45am Sat 3 Nov 12
Typical Macnamara speak, Always talked a good game-that was if you understood what he was saying.
Visit Bradford, ratherstickneedlesineyes
says...
10:13am Sat 3 Nov 12
bullybullman
says...
10:26am Sat 3 Nov 12
topbombing wrote:He`s right how can a coach that failed in such epic style become England coach ? its a joke. Good job France , Wales , Scotland & Ireland are poor sides unfortunatly the same can not be said for Kiwis & Austrailia.
Archie's Ghost wrote:Zzzzzzzz
The worst coach in Super League history.
And he gets the England job!
pweibj67
says...
3:48pm Sat 3 Nov 12
Shelfrhino
says...
8:50pm Sat 3 Nov 12
You heard it here first.
oddshapedballs
says...
8:35am Sun 4 Nov 12
Shipley Paul
says...
1:35pm Sun 4 Nov 12
Shelfrhino wrote:Rumour has it Hull FC have made a big bid for Danny Maguire and Rob Burow. They need extra car park attendants to cope with the huge increase in crowds they'll need to finance all these new players they are rumoured to be signing.You heard it here.....
Rumour has it that Hull FC may be making a move for Gale after there main target Scott Prince decided to stay in the NRL.
You heard it here first.
Tricky Dicky
says...
5:04pm Sun 4 Nov 12
Mumby was the best
says...
5:06pm Sun 4 Nov 12
Shipley Paul wrote:Like it, priceless LOL
Shelfrhino wrote:Rumour has it Hull FC have made a big bid for Danny Maguire and Rob Burow. They need extra car park attendants to cope with the huge increase in crowds they'll need to finance all these new players they are rumoured to be signing.You heard it here.....
Rumour has it that Hull FC may be making a move for Gale after there main target Scott Prince decided to stay in the NRL.
You heard it here first.
Shelfrhino
says...
8:38pm Sun 4 Nov 12
Their chairman is on record as saying he will spend big if he needs to, could be good business for you, a fee would be payable and you're skint. Everybody's happy.
mumby,
You really are a boring plank, you either laugh at other people's shizzle or repeat what other think.
Try and have an original thought for once you virgin.
Shelfrhino
says...
12:49am Mon 5 Nov 12
It's over a week since he reckoned that a "major announcement that would make all the other SL clubs green with envy", not heard nowt from him since.
His boyfriend from sheff seems to have gone missing too, nowt minor I hope.
jkirby85
says...
9:58am Mon 5 Nov 12
Shelfrhino wrote:Ohhhhh by the way son.....not only are you not a bulls fans commenting on an article that's got clearly nothing to do with you......your wrong about being skint!!!
I am only repeating what a couple of Hull fans were telling me yesterday in Hull.
Their chairman is on record as saying he will spend big if he needs to, could be good business for you, a fee would be payable and you're skint. Everybody's happy.
mumby,
You really are a boring plank, you either laugh at other people's shizzle or repeat what other think.
Try and have an original thought for once you virgin.
Bullbreath
says...
12:03pm Mon 5 Nov 12
Shelfrhino wrote:The dufster has been found out!
Anybody know where viking is?
It's over a week since he reckoned that a "major announcement that would make all the other SL clubs green with envy", not heard nowt from him since.
His boyfriend from sheff seems to have gone missing too, nowt minor I hope.
Shelfrhino
says...
8:53pm Mon 5 Nov 12
jkirby85 wrote:Oh, OK then dad.
Shelfrhino wrote:Ohhhhh by the way son.....not only are you not a bulls fans commenting on an article that's got clearly nothing to do with you......your wrong about being skint!!!
I am only repeating what a couple of Hull fans were telling me yesterday in Hull.
Their chairman is on record as saying he will spend big if he needs to, could be good business for you, a fee would be payable and you're skint. Everybody's happy.
mumby,
You really are a boring plank, you either laugh at other people's shizzle or repeat what other think.
Try and have an original thought for once you virgin.
Care to tell me how you're not skint.
jkirby85
says...
8:35am Tue 6 Nov 12
Shelfrhino wrote:Deary me.....started a new co.....did you not read this.....and clear off our newspaper
jkirby85 wrote:Oh, OK then dad.
Shelfrhino wrote:Ohhhhh by the way son.....not only are you not a bulls fans commenting on an article that's got clearly nothing to do with you......your wrong about being skint!!!
I am only repeating what a couple of Hull fans were telling me yesterday in Hull.
Their chairman is on record as saying he will spend big if he needs to, could be good business for you, a fee would be payable and you're skint. Everybody's happy.
mumby,
You really are a boring plank, you either laugh at other people's shizzle or repeat what other think.
Try and have an original thought for once you virgin.
Care to tell me how you're not skint.
Archie's Ghost says...
8:34am Sat 3 Nov 12
And he gets the England job!