Keighley Cougars scrum-half Luke Gale says his side are looking to break the mould in the Betfred Championship after their promotion from League One last season.
The 34-year-old joined Keighley ahead of the 2023 campaign after his contract expired at Hull FC, and he has dropped down a division from the Betfred Super League to help the newly-promoted side compete in the second tier.
He tells The Sportsman: “It’s a new challenge and a challenge I’m looking forward to with the Keighley Cougars. It’s something I’m really looking forward to.”
The veteran admits there is a lot of expectation on his shoulders due to his experience in the top-flight but he’s embracing this fresh challenge with his new teammates.
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“There’s always going to be a certain kind of pressure but I put myself under that pressure anyway and I suppose they went unbeaten last year in League One. We know the Championship is a whole different ball game but it’s a challenge we’re all looking forward to.
“It’s tough but it’s going to be an enjoyable season. I think Rhys Lovegrove is a forward-thinking coach, he thinks about the game differently and that was one of the main attractions to come to Keighley. The way he plays his football and the way we want to play and put on a show, and hopefully that’s what we can bring to the Championship.
Gale sees this chapter at Keighley Cougars as the final one of his career and he is hoping that he can enjoy his last few years as a professional, and he wants to rewrite Championship history with the Cougars this year.
“It's the final leg of the journey. There’s plenty of fire left. We just want to add to the Championship and add to the competition, and play some good football along the way.
“I suppose that’s why Rhys brought me in, for the experience. We’ve got a really young and talented squad and I can add that bit of gile to the team.”
“Expectation is good and it’s healthy. You want that because you don’t want to just come up and make up the numbers, we want to compete and push our way into that top six. We’re under no illusions, it’s going to be tough.
“Every team historically that has come up from League One has struggled. We’ve made a good few signings and we’re looking to break the mould.”
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