An exciting future ahead for Leeds Rhinos predicts Luke Gale

The Leeds-born 31-year-old is one of the old heads in a youthful Rhinos squad which includes only three players who will be aged 30 or over at the start of the season next week.

Rhinos are in a rebuilding phase after the final members of the golden generation retired last year.

But speaking at the Betfred Super League launch at Emerald Headingley, Gale predicted an exciting future for his home city club.

“The facilities are first class,” the 2017 Man of Steel said.

“Now we need a team to be first class on the pitch.

“I think we are at the start of a new journey, what has gone before is great, but this is a new team with a new coach.

“Pre-season has been fantastic and it feels fresh and new. We are at the start of a journey and who knows where it can take us?”

Gale – who will write a weekly column in the YEP this year, beginning next Friday – is expected to make his Rhinos debut in the Super League round one clash with Hull in nine days’ time.

“I started at Leeds Rhinos from 12 years old on the scholarship, to 19 when I left to go on loan to Doncaster,” he recalled.

“I had five great seasons at Cas, it’s a great club and I met many great people there. It was hard, it wasn’t an easy decision.

“It was a bit of a rollercoaster and some people weren’t happy, but I had to do what I thought was best for me and that was going to Leeds Rhinos.”

Former South Sydney Rabbitohs prop George Burgess took a different direction.

Wigan Warriors’ star signing had a spell on Rhinos’ academy before beginning his professional career with Bradford Bulls.

Burgess told the launch: “A lot of people expected me to go to a Yorkshire club, maybe Leeds.

“You have got to weigh a lot of options up – what’s best not just for myself, but for my family.

“All that got taken into account and Wigan seemed like the best fit at the time. I am pretty happy with the decision so far.”