OFFICIAL Lachlan Galvin #277 *Released* Career Discussion.

[mtd#2]

Pipedream:
DCE is off contract and we can chat to him.
We get him without having to trade anyone for 1 season with an option for 2 in his favour.
The trade is for olakau'atu for Galvin if they want him.

IMO We go into premiership contention if we get a centre in the off season.

Latu gets his development under Luai and DCE and comes through the system the right way.

I know it's 100/1, but Id be down for that .

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

How funny if he goes to Manly. Onitoni Large might be looking for another release.

my understanding at manly is that seibold and the club see Onitoni Large as a fullback / centre not a 6

 

[mtd#2]

You're assuming those reasons havent been fed to him by his manager. He's not an incredibly bright kid from what I can see and still only 17 years old, he's probably very maluable to those in his inner circle. I think his parents or his manager have greatly helped make this decision

His parents don't get off scott free.
His dad ignoring Richo says everything we need to know about his character.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and the tree is buying into the Moses narrative.
They all deserve each other.

 

[user118245]

almost 1000 messages in 24 hours on this wow

 

[Needaname]

Probably his old coach from Westfield who is currently at the bulldogs, just a guess

Gus mentioned twice last night that he needs to be ready to be a ‘star’ by the age of 22-23 so his development over the next 3-4 years is most important.
I said he mentioned it twice, ‘as advice to him and and his player manager’ but I’m certain I heard him say ‘when I met with him I told him’ …

 

[Lestronge]

I think it's more to do with coffee meetings with other high profile people who have been selling him and his family other options. Gus seems to know him well already defending his character after the reports about was said about Benji.
The kid is use to starring and winning his entire life - two and now three wooden spoons were never in his destiny.
This club was always going to be hard sell when he knows there is interest elsewhere - via Moses - and the only thing holding him back is a piece of paper.
As reported Gus has already said- like him or hate him people listen to him - he will make more money in the history of the game than any other player, best young player he has ever seen. clubs will win competitions because of him and a big money contract now could be detrimental.
In the next breath he says I hope he stays witn WTs and never imagined that he would become available.
I have no doubt he is the family and kids head space and if Gus wants him he will make it happen.

That’s bullshit . He was here for 1 wooden spoon . Anything that happened prior to that is irrelevant .
And to be honest the only way an 18 year old would ever , ever start in a professional sporting organisation , of any sport , is if the team is dismal .
Go through any league in the world no good team is starting an 18 year old.
Even football with that weapon kid out of Barcelona , they’re not winning titles .
Ice hockey , the best kid to come through in years , they’re generational talent Conner Bedard is , grabbing spoons 2 years in a row at the blackhawks , the top NBA talents out of the last draft are all riding the bench , no matter which team they came into the league in . The nfl , doesn’t even debut kids until they’re 22 . Every single league . Baseball , the gun kids that come in are all around 21/22, they have to play a few years in the minors .
I’m racking my brain to think of a single sport that has an 18 year old , come in and play in a Key position on a winning team . Because they don’t . They come in on shit teams . And they grow with the team. Not Galvin though … he’s a superstar … who hasn’t won , 1 single game , without an elder statesman half sitting next to him . Name me a game in the last 2 years of our 9 wins ?
Even Latu goes off injured and he’s given the keys 💯 . We basically shit the bed for a whole half .
he’s not that good . He doesn’t affect outcomes , he has highlight reels . Benji himself was 3 times the player Galvin is at the same age . Already had a premiership !
All of this is to say , he obviously will one day . I’m not saying that . But that’s not today . And it won’t be for a few years .

 

[NT_Tiger]

I'll be really interested to see how he performs this week if he gets named. If the media is to be believed, he has isolated himself and will soon become aware that, as far as the NRL world sees it, he has declared himself a big deal and he now has to live up to that. The development curve has just gone vertical for him.

 

[Lestronge]

I'll be really interested to see how he performs this week if he gets named. If the media is to be believed, he has isolated himself and will soon become aware that, as far as the NRL world sees it, he has declared himself a big deal and he now has to live up to that. The development curve has just gone vertical for him.

Ash Taylor was out of the league , by the time he was 26 , similar type of ego , similar type of story ie. money , control, parents etc. it’s a cautionary tale , any smart parent would heed . Too much too soon .
The NBA went through it after Jordan retired . Now it’s considered the lost generation … it’s why that sport has rookie caps on their deals , and clauses and stipulations around player welfare and management .

 

[Suzie-Q]

We have an opportunity to nip this kind of shit in the bud and stop it from ever happening again.

First things first, you take the Bennett approach and dump him to reserve grade. He doesn’t play another game of first grade at the Tigers, he doesn’t train with the first grade team. He doesn’t want to be coached by Benji? So be it.

Second thing is you then take the Bellamy approach and refuse any early releases unless we get equal or close to equal value back whether that be in players, cash or a combo of both.

Third thing is we refuse to negotiate with or sign any Isaac Moses clients going forward. I know Bula is one of his but we have time to convince him to dump Moses. This cancer butchered our club once 8 years ago and is trying to do it again. Enough is enough.

The has happened too many times now. Richo has already made a great start with the statement yesterday but we need to follow through on those three things if we’re ever truly going to move forward as a club.

This ^^^ times a hundred!

On another note, what is the issue around Benji having former team-mates on the coaching staff? That is the weirdest comment imo 😳

 

[mtd#2]

Gus mentioned twice last night that he needs to be ready to be a ‘star’ by the age of 22-23 so his development over the next 3-4 years is most important.
I said he mentioned it twice, ‘as advice to him and and his player manager’ but I’m certain I heard him say ‘when I met with him I told him’ …

Yeah I think he met him, which isn't uncommon for a broadcaster. I think the Gus narrative is paranoia tbh.

 

[Telltails]

That’s bullshit . He was here for 1 wooden spoon . Anything that happened prior to that is irrelevant .
And to be honest the only way an 18 year old would ever , ever start in a professional sporting organisation , of any sport , is if the team is dismal .
Go through any league in the world no good team is starting an 18 year old.
Even football with that weapon kid out of Barcelona , they’re not winning titles .
Ice hockey , the best kid to come through in years , they’re generational talent Conner Bedard is , grabbing spoons 2 years in a row at the blackhawks , the top NBA talents out of the last draft are all riding the bench , no matter which team they came into the league in . The nfl , doesn’t even debut kids until they’re 22 . Every single league . Baseball , the gun kids that come in are all around 21/22, they have to play a few years in the minors .
I’m racking my brain to think of a single sport that has an 18 year old , come in and play in a Key position on a winning team . Because they don’t . They come in on shit teams . And they grow with the team. Not Galvin though … he’s a superstar … who hasn’t won , 1 single game , without an elder statesman half sitting next to him . Name me a game in the last 2 years of our 9 wins ?
Even Latu goes off injured and he’s given the keys 💯 . We basically shit the bed for a whole half .
he’s not that good . He doesn’t affect outcomes , he has highlight reels . Benji himself was 3 times the player Galvin is at the same age . Already had a premiership !
All of this is to say , he obviously will one day . I’m not saying that . But that’s not today . And it won’t be for a few years .

I think you misunderstood what I'm saying. Playing for a wooden spoon team is not the trajectory that Lachy is used to or is interested in. He likes winning and he is use to winning and his reactions to losing and disappointment are evident. It appears that he feels he doesn't belong in that environment and when you have been a junior rep player your whole life and glorified the reality of suddenly being a loser is a bitter pill to swallow.

 

[Spacecub]

Yep theres a lot of smell in all this...too much BS.
There must be something already lined up...no one knocks back a certain 6 million without knowing what the future holds....something fishy going on but as usual the NRL have their heads up their arse

Along with Gould's head

 

[Kelce68]

We can not let Galvin win by granting him a early release unless there is something big in it for us. There has to be a message sent out to the NRL world that we are not a door mat. Ride the pines in the lower grades to keep team harmony but no release without a very good player in return .

The NRL must finally do something about this sort of thing happening, imagine the out cry from Uncle Nick if this happened at the Chooks

It's not a matter of them 'winning' though.

They've chosen their path and it's out of the club's control now.

What is in their control is a bargaining chip for the next, probably 6-8 months, that they can use to have a win out of all this.

Richo should be doing nothing but ringing club bosses at his likely destinations and starting to talk early swap deals.

Maximise what you can with the cards you've got.

Clubs will want him for next year. We need a centre and a second rower (at least).

Go shopping with this gift card before it expires.

 

[Jolls]

Below is an extract from the deep dive that is relevant to the galvin discussion. The full deep dive can be found here if you want to read the detail: (https://weststigersforum.com/threads/wests-tigers-deep-dive-of-the-week.36357/page-5#post-2089273)

Galvin's situation was more than just a contract negotiation — it’s was a referendum on our long-term strategy, and a test case for how the league values development clubs in a competitive and commercially-driven era.

The concept of the Wests Tigers as a development club is logical — it’s necessary in order for us to climb out of the ashes of our inner turmoil. But for that model to succeed, we need investment in the professional development of our coaching staff, stability in the club and its staff and the creation of a consistently high performing NRL team with a culture that inspires our juniors.

Right now, though we are in a transition phase. While there have been renewed investments in pathways, facilities, and staff, the club still struggles with on-field results and broader cultural cohesion. These issues directly affect retention, and will continue to do so, until we have juniors coming through the system into a balanced, and consistently high performing first grade side.

It is essential that the club invests in systems that protect and reward those investments. It must,conspire with the other development clubs to lobby the NRL and the RLPA to create systems that support the development and retention of our juniors. Failure to invest in this, as the foundation of the club, risk us becoming nothing more than a feeder club for more successful organisations. The challenge is convincing the NRL and the RLPA that failing to protect the juniors of development club’s risks weakening the very grassroots talent pipeline it relies on to survive.

Galvin and his management have completely cocked this negotiation up and will pay a heavy price for it. However, him wanting to jump ship is a symptom of where we are at as a club. We have succcessfully developed the pathway but have not cracked the culture and performance issues like the dogs have. We have a way to go yet before we can hang our hats on being a development club and until we get there we will lose the juniors that have not bought into the club's potential. Until then we will have to manage the cap carefully, cherry pick junior investments and outside recruitment to get quality players with the right values into FG. Richo and Benji have done OK so far.

Oh, and Galvin. I don't think he can come back from bagging Benji so openly in the media. Had this part not come out all parties could have been professional and managed to keep Galvin in and around FG as he is one of our best 17. As it stands now I expect Galvin is on the outer with the playing group and will need to play out of his skin in Ressies to earn another crack at FG.

 

[Lestronge]

This ^^^ times a hundred!

On another note, what is the issue around Benji having former team-mates on the coaching staff? That is the weirdest comment imo 😳

I think it was to imply nepotism over results . Yet say what you want about nepotism , his assistants this year are a former Cronulla sharks head coach who built the sharks junior nursery . Along with others, from the joke it was 15 years ago to a strong nursery. And it’s tailed off now since he’s left .
The other is a former Reserve grade coach here , went to England and coached over there for a few years , and had spent the last few years in rugby assisting them in league type strategies , and now is back in the nrl .
Both those resumes are pretty strong for assistant coach positions .
I’m not sure what heighno does , maybe he’s like a Royce Simmons , adds value in ways that arnt measurable , maybe he’s a gun middles coach , I dunno , but he’s hardly in a huge position of power . He’s like the assistants assistant . .

 

[liltiger]

Well whether it occurred or not, there has been smoke about ever since the mainstream fans first knew of this kid’s name.
He has come up watching this club be the most incompetent and embarrassing in professional sport - any code - in this nation.
Then you see someone well past his prime announced as coach, after he orchestrated the sacking of the previous one, with the caveat that he teach a complete novice to be his replacement in the next 2 years. That coach then gets prematurely sacked himself leaving the novice standing alone, cock in hand with the wind blowing straight back at him.

…and people are surprised his team are telling him to get out?

I'd totally agree Tucker except Benji imo with the new recruits and the assistant coaches, has us on an upward trajectory. I said it would take me 10 games to see if I though he could make it. After 6 I'm of the belief Benji is good enough to be an N.R.L coach. He has and will make mistakes, he openly admits it, though iv seen enough improvement in the guys that were with us last year to suggest he knows what he's doing. Other thing aswell, we have a new professional CEO, real independant, competent boardroom. Had we been in the same mess we have been prior to 2 years ago I'd whole heartedly agree with you, we arnt that club anymore, we are a work in progress, but even blind Freddy can see we're on the up. We gave the kid everything we could to accommodate him this year, still wasn't enough, seriously doubt it's anything to do with the club mate, just think it's him, looking for an excuse.

 

[Jolls]

Gus mentioned twice last night that he needs to be ready to be a ‘star’ by the age of 22-23 so his development over the next 3-4 years is most important.
I said he mentioned it twice, ‘as advice to him and and his player manager’ but I’m certain I heard him say ‘when I met with him I told him’ …

Gus did say that he has had one conversation with him and relayed that for his development he needed to be a sponge so he could become the best 22/23 yo in the NRL.

 

[Needaname]

Yeah I think he met him, which isn't uncommon for a broadcaster. I think the Gus narrative is paranoia tbh.

What do you mean? You don’t believe the dogs have any interest? He basically did a sales pitch last night.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I don’t understand the thinking from the Galvin camp.
We literally have signed the halfback playing with him for the next 5 years who, for the last 5 years played with the best half in the world. We also have the hooker and winger. All of whom are absolutely guns.

And if Galvin signed a 5 year contract then he’d be 25 by the end, barely even in his prime. For me this offer seems amazing to a 19 year old.
And by jumping ship, is he going to get more money? Maybe. But worth the risk?

Will he be with a better halves partner? No.

Will he have a more experienced coach? Maybe.
But the only coaches he could be hoping for are narrowed down to Bennett, Robinson, Cleary or Bellamy - and there’s no guarantee all them will still be the coach for the next 5 years. Anyway, Melbourne have halves, Roosters are out of the question, why would anyone go to Souths, and Penrith are on a major decline.
So who is left?
Dogs? Playing with Burton and Ciraldo. Is that so much better?
Parra with Moses and Ryles…seriously?
Manly with Brooks and Seibold?
Rugby union?

We are a club creating a great culture and strong lineup. The opportunity here for him is phenomenal. Chance to do something great. And on great money - before he is even 25!
I just don’t get the thinking from the Galvin camp at all.

It’s not hard to understand if it’s one of the following reasons

1. His old man (He’s just as complicit as Moses). From what I have heard, he has a very inflated view of what his son is worth. Anything less than a club offering him the kingdom and all but being granted immortal status, daddy Galvin does a Michael Jordan and takes it personally.

2. They just aren’t fans of the club for whatever reason, and no offer, no matter how sweet could keep him here.

I feel like it’s a mix of both. It still staggers me that a player has made up his mind to leave a club 18 months before his contract is up. It’s almost bordering on hate. Which makes me wonder why the hell they even brought him here in the first place.

 

[Ron Brodrick's Spirit]

I don’t want this to be taken out of context, but having watched a few games live and close to the field before and after the games, Galvin appears disconnected from the team which are from Western Sydney, Polynesian, Kiwis, Lebanese, and indigenous. The arrival of Luai, Turuva, May, and now the emergence and gelling of the Fainus, Pole, T’oa et al and the group is very happy and talkative - connected. Galvin is an odd one out. Even Twal is a man of the people and Seyfarth doing his job, AD has found his place. Galvin is the most nervous and erratic one especially during warm up, Laui and Turuva are not being aggressive, but telling him where to stand in warm up drills in a firm way. He is just a kid but looks lost amongst the group till kick off and in part trying too much. Maybe it’s the same at training? No idea. I think his parents and him may feel he isn’t in the best place with all the ‘bros’, despite them playing well, and would be better to grow up around another team that’s more akin to his nature / temperament. I have no idea where that is, and which club isn’t similar to us in terms of players origins and their ‘bro’ness’.This is all just my observation. He certainly isn’t hanging out after games and giving time to the fans. At the dolphins game, To’a, Hunt and Pole had to be pulled from the field by a trainer or manager, and then you watch the lads get a feed. The big ‘dogs’ have arrived and I’m sure there is some tension when he was the beloved one last year. Most controversial part, and I love our team and all that is going on, but I can’t understand why a white skinny teenager might see this team as intimidating. Just hope Latu can find fitness - I sense he will be great with Luai and that is the teams preferred halves - to them - the bros. Galvin is an odd one out. Maybe I am wrong, but even TDS and Twal seem to be enjoying themselves around this harder edge bro group. Go the Tigs!

I think you're spot on. I think there's a cultural disconnect and that his parents think he may be a better fit at the Bulldogs with a few more players that match his personality ( That's as subtly as I can put it without pointing out the obvious)