Wakefield boss Mark Applegarth says a “freak accident” left Luke Gale laid up hoping his season isn’t over.
The ex-England scrum-half, 35, has played just two games since joining Super League’s bottom club from Keighley in May. A groin issue initially sidelined him but he debuted against Hull KR and then helped inspire Trinity to Friday’s thrilling win over Salford which has boosted the club’s hopes of avoiding relegation. However, the former Man of Steel agonisingly picked up an ankle injury in training this week ruling him out of tomorrow’s game against Wigan and facing a scan today to ascertain the full damage.
Applegarth explained: “It was a freak accident. He put a kick through in training and just as he was pulling up he tripped over someone’s leg and caught his other foot in the grass. I didn’t see it live - I watched it back on the drone footage - but saw him writhing around on the floor in pain. We’re hoping it’s not as bad as first feared. We’ll see what the scan shows but it’s definitely not broken. We’re just hoping it’s a sprain and doesn’t need surgery.”
Fellow half-back Morgan Smith has been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his foot while main playmaker Mason Lino isn’t due back until next week leaving Applegarth contemplating some ‘left-field’ options as Will Dagger’s half-back partner tomorrow. It sums up Trinity’s luck this season but the coach refuses to be downbeat. He added: “It is (bad luck) but a good chance for other people to step up.
"We try not to make a song and dance about it. Luke Gale is a quality player who adds a lot of value to whichever team he’s in but it’s a good chance for someone else to step in. We’ve a few options. Mason got through his running session today and if no hiccups he should be back next week. It’s a blow for Galey but he’s still there behind the scenes helping everyone. You can either play victim or get on with it. We won’t use it as an excuse. We’ve got to have a better mentality than that.
“Luke’s a great professional and he’s worked so hard so I just hope he does still get to play a big role for us before the season ends. We should find out the results of his scan later this evening.”
Wakefield have won two of their last three games to offer hope they could enjoy another ‘Great Escape.’ But Challenge Cup holders Wigan are in good nick and Applegarth - who hopes to have Aussie forward Jai Field back in the side and potentially Kevin Proctor and Samisoni Langi - said: “They are coming back into form. They’re a really well-run club, with a strong sense of identity and a lot of star players, the obvious ones being Jai Field and Bevan French.
“They’re the stuff of nightmares if you don’t control that ruck. Wigan are a side who will be challenging for honours at the end of the season. But we need to focus on ourselves, keep working on our confidence and composure and having senior lads back has been great offering that leadership we’ve needed.”
