Luke Gale - It's exciting times for Leeds Rhinos, Super League...and me

It is exciting times for me; Leeds Rhinos and Super League and pre-season could not have gone any better.

The boys have been great, it has been tough but, for me personally, it has been great to do a pre-season.

I have missed a few with international duties and the last 18 months being injured as well, but now I feel fit and as good as could be.

It is good to be back and, on Sunday against Hull, I’ll get to do something I’ve always wanted – walk out at Headingley as a Leeds player in a Super League game.

There’s no better occasion to make my full debut for Leeds, in front of a packed Emerald Headingley.

I think the double-header – with Cas and Toronto – is a great initiative by Super League to get the game in a bit more of the spotlight.

I was at the Super League launch last week and it’s the most eagerly-awaited competition I’ve been part of – and I have been around a fair few years.

The stars in the room make it a really exciting league to be part of. Sonny Bill, George Burgess, James Maloney – they are all going to light up the competition and there’s so many stars this year, I have no doubt it is going to be the biggest and best yet.

Headingley was a fantastic place to hold the launch. It is a first-class facility and a first-class club and we need to put in first-class performances on the field. That is how the club will be judged and everything else here is grade one.

Saints will be the team to beat this year, there’s no doubt about that. They have been the best team by a country mile the last two seasons.