OFFICIAL Lachlan Galvin #277 *Released* Career Discussion.

[mtd#2]

The handling of Latu has been nothing short of a disgrace. And if he were to leave, it would not surprise me in the least.

Latu was ready to give the game away... if it wasnt for Benji managing him the way he has (building up his confidence again)... he might not be playing at all. Everyone seems to forget how little game time he has had in the past 4 years.

The way Benji chose to use him in 2026 was strategic and agreed upon before a ball was even kicked.

If you dont believe it, please ask Latu if you manage to get to a training day... you'll be suprised at the loyalty he has to Benji and the club...

 

[You Know Who]

The handling of Latu has been nothing short of a disgrace. And if he were to leave, it would not surprise me in the least.

Latu's 40 minutes against the Warriors was so pleasing but so infuriating to watch because it showed what we could've had throughout the entire season. Benji playing Latu at hooker and lock was coaching malpractice.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

People were getting upset that Latu was getting limited minutes (and sometimes none) off the bench in positions he's never played before while a career backup (Madden) was getting picked ahead of him. If Latu was coming off the bench into the halves, like he did in our last game, there's no issue. But that was clearly not the case and Benji did nothing to help his development by picking him at lock and hooker.

TDS was competing for minutes and a spot on the bench with dogshit like Hope and Mason (and even Brent Naden) despite being clearly better than all of them. Not to mention the early success of the Api/TDS combo earlier in the season which Benji inexplicably went away from.

The point is that Benji and his staff don't have a clue how to develop and use talent which has led to some of them leaving. No competent first grade coach would pick the likes of Tristan Hope, Heath Mason, Brent Naden and Jock Madden over TDS and Latu Fainu.

The handling of Latu has been nothing short of a disgrace. And if he were to leave, it would not surprise me in the least.

Harsh on the criticism of using Latu, think it would've happened earlier this season if it wasn't for the early injury, then suspension, then was about to start there and picked up a hamstring strain again.

Set back after set back, didn't have the minutes in the legs to start at halfback

 

[Betterdays22]

Yeah let’s stick our future hooker and Api successor, with 22 NRL games under his belt, in NSW Cup so we can give game time to Heath Mason, Brent Naden, and Tristian Hope….

Try actually using your brain next time.

So next year would you prefer Haywood playing 20 mins here and there off the bench week to week in the NRL rather than getting 80 min reps in Cup? Because its a very similar situation

 

[You Know Who]

Latu was ready to give the game away... if it wasnt for Benji managing him the way he has (building up his confidence again)... he might not be playing at all. Everyone seems to forget how little game time he has had in the past 4 years.

The way Benji chose to use him in 2026 was strategic and agreed upon before a ball was even kicked.

If you dont believe it, please ask Latu if you manage to get to a training day... you'll be suprised at the loyalty he has to Benji and the club...

Do you think it's been better for Latu's development and confidence to play scrap minutes at hooker and lock while watching clearly inferior players stink it up in the halves and even cost us games at times?

 

[mtd#2]

Harsh on the criticism of using Latu, think it would've happened earlier this season if it wasn't for the early injury, then suspension, then was about to start there and picked up a hamstring strain again.

Set back after set back, didn't have the minutes in the legs to start at halfback

Yeah, ppl seem to be overlooking this.

He had surgery last off-season and wasnt fit to play until a few rounds into the season. Definitely wasnt ready to lead the team around the park... plus... he had plenty of injuries before that the previous 2 seasons prior..

For a bloke whos confidence was shot, starting him in the halves would have been irresponsible. Development isnt always pushing a player to start week in week out.

He will be better for the year that has been and we will see him as our starting 6 or 7 next year.

 

[mtd#2]

Do you think it's been better for Latu's development and confidence to play scrap minutes at hooker and lock while watching clearly inferior players stink it up in the halves and even cost us games at times?

Yep. Less responsibility. Less pressure. His confidence was shot. I stress, it was absolutely shot.

So I stand by the decisions they made with him this year. He will be better for it in 27.

 

[Tucker]

So next year would you prefer Haywood playing 20 mins here and there off the bench week to week in the NRL rather than getting 80 min reps in Cup? Because its a very similar situation

We don’t need to play him in first grade as we have Brailey to backup Api. Once one of them goes down, then next man up.

 

[You Know Who]

So next year would you prefer Haywood playing 20 mins here and there off the bench week to week in the NRL rather than getting 80 min reps in Cup?

Nice try but I'll humor you. Haywood is a kid with 1 NRL game under his belt and should stay in NSW Cup to get used to playing against fully grown men and should only be used off the bench in the event that Api is injured/suspended/picked for Origin and Brailey is used as starting hooker.

So tell me, why was TDS not being given consistent minutes off the bench and being forced to compete with Tristian Hope, Heath Mason and Brent Naden for a spot on the bench despite being clearly better than all of them? And tell me why he was then given consistent minutes off the bench and as a starter in a team that finished higher than us.

 

[mtd#2]

Nice try but I'll humor you. Haywood is a kid with 1 NRL game under his belt and should stay in NSW Cup to get used to playing against fully grown men and should only be used off the bench in the event that Api is injured/suspended/picked for Origin and Brailey is used as starting hooker.

So tell me, why was TDS not being given consistent minutes off the bench and being forced to compete with Tristian Hope, Heath Mason and Brent Naden for a spot on the bench despite being clearly better than all of them? And tell me why he was then given consistent minutes off the bench and as a starter in a team that finished higher than us.

There is more to the TDS situation than just minutes in the NRL. The whole crew he was apart of, are no longer here. None of us (that post) truly know what happened, but obviously something did.

I mean, even letting Luke Laualili go mid year was just strange... he was the last of that group.. none of it makes sense.

 

[TigerBurnsy]

Yep. Less responsibility. Less pressure. His confidence was shot. I stress, it was absolutely shot.

So I stand by the decisions they made with him this year. He will be better for it in 27.

I know Benji has been managing it so hopefully he can get his confidence back, it would suck to see the career of a young lad ruined from his confidence issues. Was it mainly due to the injuries?

 

[You Know Who]

Yep. Less responsibility. Less pressure. His confidence was shot. I stress, it was absolutely shot.

So I stand by the decisions they made with him this year. He will be better for it in 27.

So it's a good idea to put an injury prone player low on confidence in two of the most physically demanding positions coming off a shoulder reconstruction and a history of hamstring issues? You must be on Benji's staff to come up with that reasoning.

It's also funny how you'll nitpick the part about Latu thinking about giving the game away but ignore the part about him transitioning to lock and putting on size. How would that help his development as a halve?

 

[Telltails]

Latu was rarely available and when he was got injured and or suspended for a significant portion of the year. He has never been match fit due to not playing enough footy. FG games can't be treated as trial matches.
Benji has stated where he sees Latu in his plans - now it's up him to get his body right

 

[You Know Who]

Latu was rarely available and when he was got injured and or suspended for a significant portion of the year. He has never been match fit due to not playing enough footy. FG games can't be treated as trial matches.
Benji has stated where he sees Latu in his plans - now it's up him to get his body right

Not true. Latu was available for at least 16 games this season and played about 40 minutes in total in the halves. Stop the excuses, there is no reason to play Jock [This word has been automatically removed]ing Madden over Latu Fainu if both are available.

 

[mtd#2]

So it's a good idea to put an injury prone player low on confidence in two of the most physically demanding positions coming off a shoulder reconstruction and a history of hamstring issues? You must be on Benji's staff to come up with that reasoning.

Can you provide me with the details on which rounds he played these positions and how long he was on the field? Because the way you are presenting this information makes it sound like he was grinding in those positions week in and week out.

But to address your question, playing hooker and lock (in patches) evolves his understanding of those roles. When you are a half, the better you know those around you, the better you anticipate what to do and can make better choices.

It's also funny how you'll nitpick the part about Latu thinking about giving the game away but ignore the part about him transitioning to lock and putting on size. How would that help his development as a halve?

Im not nitpicking, I'll discuss whatever you want.

Can you also share where its been quoted that he is putting on size to transition to lock? I believe that may have been one of the options on the cards (according to the forum) whilst luai was here and if Latu kept getting injuries - because in the best interest of any team, you cant build your team around a bloke who plays 12 games a season. But i never heard this from anyone of note.

 

[You Know Who]

There is more to the TDS situation than just minutes in the NRL. The whole crew he was apart of, are no longer here. None of us (that post) truly know what happened, but obviously something did.

I mean, even letting Luke Laualili go mid year was just strange... he was the last of that group.. none of it makes sense.

Not oversimplifying it at all and you don't need to be a genius to put some things together.

According to Benji and his coaching staff (based on their team selections), TDS wasn't good enough to get consistent minutes over Hope and Mason yet he went on to play a consistent 40+ minutes off the bench and as a starter for Parramatta (who finished above us in both 25 and 26) where he proceeded to grow and grow.

I don't blame him one bit for wanting out and it speaks volumes considering how vocal he was about his love for the halves.

 

[Betterdays22]

Nice try but I'll humor you. Haywood is a kid with 1 NRL game under his belt and should stay in NSW Cup to get used to playing against fully grown men and should only be used off the bench in the event that Api is injured/suspended/picked for Origin and Brailey is used as starting hooker.

So tell me, why was TDS not being given consistent minutes off the bench and being forced to compete with Tristian Hope, Heath Mason and Brent Naden for a spot on the bench despite being clearly better than all of them? And tell me why he was then given consistent minutes off the bench and as a starter in a team that finished higher than us.

Haywood will be the same age next year as TDS was in the season you are referring to.

Why does any young player get reps in reserve grade? TDS was not being given consistent minutes off the bench because he had things he needed to go back and work on, rather than doing it in 20 minutes bursts in first grade. His defence was atrocious when he came into grade. His feeling of entitlement to a first grade spot at 20 is everything wrong with our juniors

 

[Betterdays22]

We don’t need to play him in first grade as we have Brailey to backup Api. Once one of them goes down, then next man up.

Braileys recruitment is proof they recognise weekly 20 minute bursts off the bench is not how you develop a young hooker.

 

[mtd#2]

Not oversimplifying it at all and you don't need to be a genius to put some things together.

According to Benji and his coaching staff (based on their team selections), TDS wasn't good enough to get consistent minutes over Hope and Mason yet he went on to play a consistent 40+ minutes off the bench and as a starter for Parramatta (who finished above us in both 25 and 26) where he proceeded to grow and grow.

I don't blame him one bit for wanting out and it speaks volumes considering how vocal he was about his love for the halves.

If the entire galvin/tds squad has left.. you dont think it could relate to an issue there, as opposed to hope and mason being picked on form?

 

[Tucker]

There is more to the TDS situation than just minutes in the NRL. The whole crew he was apart of, are no longer here. None of us (that post) truly know what happened, but obviously something did.

I mean, even letting Luke Laualili go mid year was just strange... he was the last of that group.. none of it makes sense.

I agree.
People were hailing this group coming through as our answer to what Penrith were building.
To see them all gone from the club without striking much of a blow here is very frustrating.