New Bulls recruit Luke Gale admits he is desperate to feature for England Knights in their forthcoming clashes with France and Samoa.
The 23-year-old half-back has been training with the Knights since the end of the regular Super League season ahead of their double-header later this month.
While Steve McNamara’s senior squad prepare to face the might of Australia and New Zealand in the Four Nations tournament, the Knights host France on October 15 and Samoa seven days later.
The final England and England Knights squads will be announced after this weekend’s Super League Grand Final and Gale is hoping to get the nod.
The close-season signing from Harlequins said: “I’ve been training with the Knights squad every Tuesday and Friday for the past three weeks and have thoroughly enjoyed it.
“We’ve been training over at Sale Sharks’ training base at Carrington and it’s been going really well.
“Steve McNamara has been taking the sessions and hopefully I can do enough to make the final squad.
“I’d love to be involved against France and Samoa. That would set me up nicely before I start pre-season training with the Bulls.”
Gale, meanwhile, admits he was left stunned by Rangi Chase’s shock England call-up yesterday.
Castleford playmaker Chase, who was last night named 2011 Super League Man of Steel after an outstanding year with the Tigers, played against England for the New Zealand Maoris in Auckland on the eve of last year’s Four Nations Series.
But he qualifies for England under the residency ruling, having been with Castleford for the last three seasons, and is now set to line up against the country of his birth in the 2011 Gillette Four Nations.
His call-up is seen as a massive snub to homegrown English players and has provoked anger and ridicule in some quarters.
Yet Gale added diplomatically: “Rangi Chase is a great player. He’s had a fantastic season and is up for the Man of the Steel award.
“If he’s eligible to play for England then we want the best players playing for us.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel