Decision made on Luke Gale as Josh Thewlis named at full-back for Warrington

Having been named in Wakefield’s 21-man squad to take on Warrington, Luke Gale will have to wait at least another week to make his return to Super League.

Wakefield boss Mark Applegarth has opted not to play the veteran half-back, with Morgan Smith named alongside Mason Lino.

Gale, 34, returned to Super League earlier this month with the Super League’s strugglers on a deal until the end of the 2024 campaign.

The former Man of Steel winner made the switch from Keighley from the Championship.

Gale has made more than 350 career appearances for Doncaster, London Broncos, Bradford, Castleford, Leeds, Hull and Keighley. He has won 10 caps for England, with his last international appearance coming in the 2017 World Cup final.

Wakefield do however welcome back key forward Kelepi Tanginoa to their starting line-up.

Lee Gaskell and Jay Pitts have been named in the centres, with Applegarth revealing earlier this week that Reece Lyne expected to miss up to a month through injury.

Daryl Powell confirms Warrington side

Outside-back Josh Thewlis has been named at full-back for Warrington, with starting #1 Matt Dufty named on the bench.

It means Matty Russell gets a start on the wing, with Matty Ashton on the other fresh from his extended contract.

Blackpool-born prop forward Joe Bullock returns from injury for the first time since March, named on the bench. Sam Kasiano and Joe Philbin completing the interchanges.

Meanwhile, Daryl Clark misses out for Warrington. The 30-year-old international hooker was forced from the field through injury against St Helens prior to the international break.

The former Castleford star was included in Daryl Powell’s 21-man squad ahead of the fixture. Danny Walker will start at hooker.

Ashton, James Harrison, George Williams, Walker, Ben Currie and Matty Nicholson all feature fresh from their England international duties, defeating France 64-0 in Warrington.

Warrington: Thewlis, Russell, Mata’utia, Ratchford, Ashton, Williams, Drinkwater, Harrison, Walker, Vaughan, Currie, Nicholson, McGuire. Bench: Dufty, Kasiano, Philbin, Bullock. 18: Green.

Wakefield: Dagger, Kay, Pitts, Gaskell, Taufua, Smith, Lino, Whitbread, Bowes, Proctor, Tanginoa, Ashurst, Crowther. Bench: Hood, Atoni, Bowden, Eseh. 18: Battye.

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