It's possible, but why create the sideshow and speculation? Would it really be worth it when they been performing so well, to try mindgames?

Anyone else remember Malcolm Alker having an emergency appendix operation (2006?) and initially being told he'd be out six weeks. He was back playing in about 15 days after being held back - he returned to training the week after the op.

Whether that is relateable to Gale remains to be seen but it's a similar circumstance and as Sal says these are not your average specimens. They are a breed apart to do what they do on a weekly basis.

Malcolm Alker who has admitted taking drugs throughout his career including Human Growth Hormone may not be the best example to highlight how these aren't your average specimens.

I haven't read his book where these admissions arose. I trust his emergency appendix op and recovery is covered in detail.

Not sure any halfback ever is good enough to play at their best whilst also avoiding taking any heavy tackles.

Personally I'm gutted for Gale and Cas. I'd obviously love us to snatch the GF from under their noses but there's no question who the best team has been in SL this year.

Oh but no matter how harsh it would be or what Daryl says* or how good they've been...if they don't win the GF they ain't champions. Everyone knows the deal at the start of the season. In fact if we somehow won it it would be bloody hilarious

*I'm referring to him saying “Winning the championship and finishing top is the truest test of being consistent over a whole season in my opinion." Which is daft as you don't "win the championship" for finishing top.

Way too much has been made of Powell's comments. Why shouldn't he and Cas fans go OTT on coming top of the table? They haven't won anything in a long time and Powell and Cas deserve huge credit for coming top and playing really good RL into the bargain. If Leeds can't win the comp, I'd far rather see Cas win in style than get ground out of the game by Wigan or Hull in the final.

Gale has missed 2 matches for Cas this year and they've won them both. McShane is a very smart player and will step in no problem with Milner at 9.

If you have a coach with a plan there's ways to overcome unfortunate occurances. They've even won games last year with prop Grant Millington in the halves.

I agree. Cas deserve to win the championship, if we don't nab it I hope they do.

I also have no issue with the sentiment of Powell's comments (tho I don't entirely agree) but when he says "if you finish top and win the championship" meaning the LLS he's factually incorrect plain n simple. The GF (or championship final in a old speak) is the championship and has been for more of RL history than its not been

Wasnt it the premiership in 'old speak'?

No, championship final preceded the premiership.

Ahh i was more interested in playing than supporting in the early 90s and probably didnt pay attention!

Th last Championship Final was 1972/73 - Dewsbury shocking Leeds at Odsal to become Champions

The following season (1973/74) Salford became Champions by topping the newly formed 1st division

The Premiership was intrroduced the following season (1974/75) to replicate the missing end of season Play-Offs only this time not to decide the Champions. St Helens were that season's Champions although they then went on to lose to Leeds in the inaugural Premiership Final held at Central Park. The Premiership remained until the advent of the SL Grand Final in 1998. Wigan won the last four Prem Finals and also took out that first SL Grand Final.

As for Castleford the last Trophy they won prior to this season's League Leaders Shield was the Regal/JP in 1993/94. In addition I don't think they'd ever finished top in the top division (someone can correct me if that is not the case) so a little giddyness is understandable.

If anyone other than Castleford end up as Champions it'll be something of a travesty IMO but it won't be the first or the last time that will happen it's part of the joy/frustration of sport.

Cas do deserve credit for winning the LLS and should celebrate winning it, but it's the way some are going on like other fans have to give them even more credit and praise than normal. Obviously means more to them as they've won it but to me it's just another team winning it, no different to me than Warrington winning it in 2016, Saints 2014, Hudds 2013 etc.

The way some Cas fans and some non Cas fans too are going on ("it'll be a travesty if they don't win it"icon_wink.gif and even some RL media we might as well scrap the GF just because Cas have won a LLS.

Think we have a little of the worst of both worlds with having just the semi's and then the final.

Previously it was clearly two separate comps the league then the play-offs, consistency then the challenge of a few weeks of knock out rugby against the best of the other sides.

Now its the league then 1 knock out game and your there. Doesnt really build in to another competition, its over before its started.

If Cas lose their fans can probably rightly claim that whoever won only really played well for 2 weeks, whilst other fans can also probably rightly claim that other teams werent trying to win a league simply qualify.

Personally im not a fan of the new structure at all, but even if we keep it I think we need a longer knock out play-off comp. If we have to keep this stupid system then id shorten the super 8s to 4 games. Top 4 play bottom 4 2 home 2 away so a 27 week season, then a top 5 play off. Keep more of the top 8 in it for longer, real reward for finishing top, real challenge to win the play-offs worthy of champions, fewer dead rubbers,

Had Leeds not won the Grand Final in 2004 or St Helens not won in 2006 they would also have been a travesty, IMO. Castleford are still on course to record the widest margin over the team finishing second on the league ladder - them not converting that into becoming Champions would be a travesty, it's in their hands to finish the job. If it can't be Leeds (and I don't think they're good enough by a long shot in 2017) I hope a new name goes on the trophy and on the performances this year so far that name deserves to be Castleford.

Done well today without him. Trueman showed exactly why I wanted us to sign him.

Indeed and why plenty of us are gutted that our latest meltdown saw him leave.

Trueman was poor tonight though and was easily outplayed by Josh Woods in the Academy Grand Final three weeks ago.

Mate, it's unfair to judge either half back last night when we had to many forwards missing. We were constantly on the back foot / second best. Wasn't at the academy GF but I would imagine that wasn't far off. Gale would have looked poor tonight playing under that pack.

Gale on Man of Steel shortlist along with Kelly and Hardaker

Kelly over parcell ? not for me

Obviously not for you. But the judges watch more than one team

so do I. but its my opinion. don't mind if I have one do you?

Parcell gets in the top 3 for me too. He's been consistently good this year. Kelly can be dire at times but also has an xfactor about him. I think Hull could cope without Kelly more so than Leeds without parcell.

Kelly has more wow games, but more poor ones too. parcel has been consistently 8/10 all season