Scott Gale

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Scott Owen Charles Gale
Born
Wednesday, 10th February, 1965
Died
Monday, 22nd March, 2004 (Aged 39 years and 40 days)

Biography

Son of 1958 Commonwealth Games sprinter Terry Gale, Scott Gale was a schoolboy sensation at Wests in 1983. After a great debut year, he spent a season with Easts but it was his stay at Balmain that brought stability and earned his reputation as a clever, tough competitor who liked to get over the top of his opposite number. However, Gale’s stay with Hull in 1987 was short-lived after being injured in his first game and his defensive lapses were not tolerated under Warren Ryan and he shifted to Norths. Gale's time with both Norths and Canberra was mainly as a stand-in, although he did take the field in Canberra's 1991 grand final loss to Penrith. (It was his short dropout from the Raiders’ line that resulted in Royce Simmons scoring the winning try of the match). Gale linked with Simmons at Hull in 1992 before joining brother Brett in the Riverina competition. Diagnosed with motor neuron disease, he passed away in March 2004, aged just 39. His sister Tarsha Gale was the first captain of NSW in Women's Rugby League.
- ALAN WHITICKER AND ANDREW FERGUSON

Playing Career Statistics

All statistics shown in this section are based only on data available in the RLP database, and are not necessarily a complete and/or 100% accurate representation of a player's career. This information should be used as a guide only. If you see a question mark (?), it denotes that the figure is not available.

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.

Competitions

Competition   App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
NRL 180 48 2   4 200 80 96 4 44.44% List
NRL Finals 10 3 -   - 12 4 6 0 40.00% List
National Panasonic Cup 11 10 -   3 43 9 1 1 81.82% List
English Championship 22 8 -   - 32 8 14 0 36.36% List
Challenge Cup 3 - -   - - 0 2 1 0.00% List
Tooheys Challenge Cup 2 - -   - - 1 1 0 50.00% List
Yorkshire Cup 2 1 -   - 4 2 0 0 100.00% List
Regal Trophy 3 1 -   - 4 2 1 0 66.67% List


Club Career

NRL/NSWRL - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Western Suburbs NSWRFL 1983 16 5 -   - 20 3 12 1 18.75% List
Eastern Suburbs NSWRL 1984 19 2 -   - 8 4 14 1 21.05% List
Balmain NSWRL 1985 26 6 -   3 27 18 8 0 69.23% List
Balmain NSWRL 1986 28 11 -   - 44 16 12 0 57.14% List
Balmain NSWRL 1987 24 11 -   - 44 14 9 1 58.33% List
Balmain NSWRL 1988 21 7 -   - 28 14 7 0 66.67% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1989 20 2 1 / 1 100.00% 1 11 4 15 1 20.00% List
North Sydney NSWRL 1990 6 1 -   - 4 1 5 0 16.67% List
Canberra NSWRL 1991 12 2 1 / 1 100.00% - 10 5 7 0 41.67% List
Canberra NSWRL 1992 8 1 -   - 4 1 7 0 12.50% List

NRL/NSWRL - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Western Suburbs 1983 16 5 -   - 20 3 12 1 18.75% List
Eastern Suburbs 1984 19 2 -   - 8 4 14 1 21.05% List
Balmain 1985-88 99 35 -   3 143 62 36 1 62.63% List
North Sydney 1989-90 26 3 1 / 1 100.00% 1 15 5 20 1 19.23% List
Canberra 1991-92 20 3 1 / 1 100.00% - 14 6 14 0 30.00% List
Overall1983-1992 180 48 2   4 200 80 96 4 44.44% List

English Career - By Year

Team Season App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Hull FC 1987/88 4 1 -   - 4 1 2 1 25.00% List
Hull FC 1992/93 26 9 -   - 36 11 15 0 42.31% List

English Career - By Team

Team Years App T G   GK % FG Pts W L D Win %  
Hull FC 1987, 1992 30 10 -   - 40 12 17 1 40.00% List

Your Say

  • Bevo
    30/04/2012

    Brilliant exponent of the chip and chase

  • Bob starkey
    18/06/2012

    legendary and inspirational halfback

  • CG
    23/06/2012

    A great bloke on and off the field.Very exciting to watch.A gifted player with plenty of try scoring magic in him. R.I.P mate.

  • Graham Walsh
    25/09/2012

    I worked with him at Hull FC, exceptional talent and a lovely bloke.

  • Shane Payne
    29/01/2014

    To see these bloke run, was poetry in motion. Saw him play at Parramatta Stadium, for the tigers, won 26-6 man of the match. True legend. RIP Scott Gale.

  • Anonymous
    07/03/2014

    Scotty!!!! was the reason I used to play footy as a young kid.

    I would practice the chip n chase for hours on end wanting to be like him. Great player and great memories, sad he passed away so young.

  • Chris
    07/07/2015

    exciting innovative player with blinding speed. A class act both on and off the field ... Top bloke

  • Greedy
    05/12/2015

    A great bloke , and very intelligent. A natural talent ,with speed to burn. I disagree with the comments about "defensive lapses".Warren Ryan rushed him back to early after his shoulder injury playing for Hull , and the subsequent operation that was required. He told me that himself , i was his flatmate at the time.

    ps. his natural position was half back

  • Justin
    25/12/2015

    A naturally gifted player who peaked at a very young age.

  • Robert Matek
    15/08/2016

    Dear friend and brilliant rugby league brain. Missed very much. RIP little brother

  • Costa
    26/10/2017

    In an era of champion halves, Gale was a sensation and would have played for Australia if he was playing today. RIP

  • Anonymous
    05/11/2017

    Scott and his beautiful wife Meg became publicans at my local hotel in East Maitland NSW along will Brett, where he (Scott) became ill, a very sad loss for the good friends he became with all he greeted, a champion on and off the feild. Aaron Joass.

  • Daniel
    19/01/2018

    I bought my first Balmain jersey with a number 7 in 1986. He was a hero to many young Tigers fans.

    Rest in peace, Scotty!!

  • Fino
    08/02/2018

    Great player, speed to burn and a step to go with it. Go the Tigers

  • Costas
    07/08/2018

    Brilliant yet underrated player who would have played for Australia had he not had so many other greats in front of him. I remember as a young bloke in the 80s after watching one particular mid week National Panasonic game my Mum would open the door to my bedroom just before i went to sleep to tell me Scott Gale was named man of the match. RIP champ

  • joe camilleri
    20/03/2019

    Brother of Brett Gale

  • Andy
    06/02/2022

    Inspirational, as good as Phil Blake with the chip and chase. Could have achieved anything in the game had he been given the opportunity to play the one position long enough. Outstanding Balmain player in an era when Balmain dominated. RIP.

  • Ray Lewis
    12/06/2022

    I ran a pub in Burwood NSW and became friends with Scott. He used to visit the pub with other Tiger players. Bluey Neil etc. They ate at the No Names Restaurant. If I was working some where in the pub I would here him call out to my wife,
    “ Where’s Razza ?”
    What a great bloke. The best of the best.

    Thanks for the memories Scotty.

  • League fan
    10/09/2022

    Scott was an electric player. These profiles don't do players justice

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Contributions: AJ Lucantonio, Paul Carter, Rugby League Tables, Andrew Ferguson, Shawn Dollin, Alan Katzmann, Steven Russo, Greg Fiveash, Max Turner, Bill Bates

Sources: NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1989-90, Match Video, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1987-88, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1990-91, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1991-92, NSWRL Rugby League Yearbook 1992-93, Irvin Saxton's Record Keepers' Club, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1988-89, Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1993-94, Newspapers