Gale aims for more than just a cameo role on return

However, fans of a popular BBC1 drama will argue otherwise and say the lively scrum-half is already up and running. Well, up and shaking, at least.

Gale, set to play at London Broncos for the first time since ankle surgery, enjoyed his own moment of television fame when he appeared on ‘The Syndicate’ three weeks ago.

Written and directed by Leeds’ own Kay Mellor, it is set predominantly in her home city and revolves around a group of hospital workers who land a multi-million pound windfall on the National Lottery.

One of the characters believes she has met a Bradford Bulls Academy player who, unknowingly, ends up with the crucial winning ticket, prompting a frantic trip down to Provident Stadium, Odsal for the nervous syndicate members.

A security guard finds said player (played by Gale), who duly emerges through a door in his kit and briefly confirms he knows nothing about the girl.

It is soon discovered the man in mention merely works in the club’s bar, which means plenty more coverage for the club’s Coral Stand facility.

“Everywhere I go people ask me about it,” says an amused Gale. “People who don’t even know me have been saying ‘Was that you on the TV?’

“I can’t believe I got so much attention for literally two seconds. Even at the (Salford) game on Monday all the crowd were asking me about it and saying they’d seen me.”

However, the cameo role did not come without its problems.

“It was filmed late last year and I was actually training with England Knights at the time,” he recalled to the Yorkshire Post.

“(Bulls media manager) Stuart Duffy rang me and asked if I fancied playing on a TV programme. I asked him if he’d got the wrong number!

“He mentioned it was called ‘The Syndicate’ and I’d actually seen a couple of episodes from the previous series so I knew about it and fancied a bit of the action.

“I spoke to a woman from the production firm and it all seemed fine but I ended up missing a full day’s training with England Knights for what was two seconds on telly.

“We were training over in Leigh that day and I’d rung the coach, Kieron Purtill, to say I had this TV thing on but it should only be half-hour and I’d be back over there in time.

“But it ended up taking maybe four or five hours for that little bit of filming and I never did get to training. He was fuming.

“When Kieron did see it he said: ‘All that for two seconds!’

“I basically bob my head through the door, shake my head and say I don’t know her.

“The lads really gave it to me about the programme... but I had told them I was in a big five-minute speaking part just to wind them up and they must have cut that out!”

Of course, Gale has no serious Thespian ambitions and it is on the pitch where he holds real stage presence.

Discovering the form of his life last season, there was talk of the wily 24-year-old even breaking into the England squad for this World Cup year.

However, an ankle injury suffered while playing for England Knights v Ireland in October, left him watching from the sidelines as Bradford embarked on an encouraging start to the campaign.

Gale had hoped to be fit for the start of the season but has missed the opening 10 games ahead of tomorrow’s comeback at Wycombe’s Adams Park.

“I’m really looking forward to it as it has been so frustrating,” he said. “I’m on the bench and don’t know how long I’ll be playing for.

“Franny (Cummins) has said he’ll bring me back in slowly but I can’t wait. It has been very, very frustrating. I’ve had a few setbacks and every time I’ve nearly been fit and think I’m going to be playing something else has happened.

“I had some ankle ligament reconstruction done which is fine but I then kept getting pain at the bottom of my ankle bone.

“I went for an X-ray and, basically, it’s just bruising but, every time I ran on it, it would cause this pain. The specialist said it will eventually ease off and all I could do was rest. I feel ready now.”

The problem for the goal-kicking play-maker, though, is that youngster Danny Addy has emerged as a player of real authority in his absence, forming an excellent partnership with the mercurial Jarrod Sammut.

“They have been brilliant,” conceded Gale, who started out in Leeds Rhinos’ Academy. “The whole side’s been awesome. We’ve only got a small squad and for the last few weeks only had 18 players to choose from but we’ve deserved everything we’ve got with some big results.

“Danny’s a massively under-rated player. He’s stepped in, can play anywhere and always does a job.

“I know I have to kick one of those out of that position but all the best teams have competition and I think it will make us stronger at Bradford.

“There’s a couple more players coming back from injury, too, like Michael Platt. Our wingers have been going very well but now they have something to think about too and it’s all very healthy.”

Leeds-born Gale is in his second season at Odsal, having moved back from Harlequins after initially catching the eye in National Two with Doncaster.

“I loved London and loved moving down there,” he recalled. “It was life-changing really. I was only 19 when I headed off there but enjoyed my rugby and learned so much.

“There were some class players like Luke Dorn and Chad Randall and they were great for my game, helping me a lot. It’ll be a good place to start again, back at my old club.”

Still aiming for World Cup spot

Uncapped Luke Gale has some ground to make up but he has not ruled out making England’s World Cup squad.

The scheming scrum-half is highly thought of by coach Steve McNamara given his running ability, varied passing skills and fine kicking game.

There is a long list of contenders for the No 7 shirt, not least Rangi Chase, Richie Myler, Gareth Widdop and perhaps still Danny Brough.

But Gale said: “I definitely still have one eye on that.

“First things first, I just want to crack on with the Bulls.

“But towards the back end of last year getting into the England squad was defintiely what I was aiming for.

“I was in the England Knights but obviously got injured and I’ve not played a game now for coming up to six months.

“But I’ll see what form I’m in at the end this time and, if I’m playing well, who knows?”