OFFICIAL Lachlan Galvin #277

[Telltails]

GALVIN’S FUTURE

Galvin is back in the team this week for the game against Cronulla but the question will linger how long the marriage can survive given the legal action that is unfolding in the background and the teenager’s seemingly tenuous relationship with senior leaders.

Richardson insists the Tigers are ready to dig in their heels and relationship with senior players can be assuaged.

The plan is for Galvin to see out the remainder of his deal until the end of 2026 as rival clubs hover overhead.

“It’s not changed,” Richardson said.

“He’s never requested (a release). The bottom line from the club’s point of view, is he is here for the next 18 months. Football players are all about winning games.

“I don’t care who you are, where you are, they want to win the game. Now last week they didn’t feel like they could win a game, or the coach didn’t think they could win (with Galvin in the team).

“This week they feel they can. From my point of view, I don’t think that’s a concern.

“It’s business as usual. Our attitude as a club is he is here for the next 18 months and we’ll work our way forward from there.”

The other elephant in the room is the relationship between Marshall and Galvin. When Galvin said he wanted to leave the club in the best interests of his development it was taken as a shot at Marshall and his coaching ability.

“The stuff about Benji and all the rest of it, he has never once said to us, not one time has he said to us, that Benji’s not a good coach or can’t coach,” Richardson said.

“What he said to us is he wants to be the best player I can be, and I believe that I can be that at another club.

“He’s never said (Marshall can’t coach). Lachlan is a very honest kid. He’s as simple as it gets. He loves his footy. If he were sitting here with you, he would be twirling the ball.

“He just loves his footy. He’s always had this thing in the back of his mind that he could obviously get a better opportunity elsewhere.

“The bottom line is though from that point of view, Lachlan has never said that in any way, shape or form (that Marshall can’t coach).”

THE COACH

Marshall is in his second year at the helm of the Tigers and the signs have been promising. The club made a fast start to the season but the Galvin saga has threatened to undo some of that good work.

The Tigers had some tough calls go against them last weekend, but they capitulated late against Parramatta and the Sharks will be an even tougher proposition this week.

Even so, Marshall has walked away from recent events with his reputation enhanced. He was widely praised for the way he handled his press conference last week in the wake of the Galvin revelations and his decision to recall the teenager shows how important the Sharks game is.

“He’s learning so much,” Richardson said.

“I’ve said it before and people underestimate it, but he’s incredibly smart. He picks up salary caps, financial things, just like that.

“He’s just all over it and he’s always well prepared. His challenge has always been management – managing players and managing people.

“He’s got so much better. The other thing that needs to be understood is he’s had to manage very difficult circumstances.

“We had a roster that was full of young kids who weren’t ready to play first grade, and players that weren’t up to the standard that was required to play first grade.

“Now we’ve had to make tough decisions last year about them moving on and in every case we’ve gone to the manager and told them early what we wanted to do.

“He’s had to manage situations like the (John) Bateman situation. For a young coach in his first year, he’s not stepping into South Sydney, he’s stepping in the world of hurt.

“Management of people is what it’s all about. Is he good at managing people? He’s better than most, but he can be better and he learns all the time, he listens.

“Do I think he’s going to be a good coach? Yes, I do. Because he listens. He’s got some good people around him that give good advice.

“It rattled him last week. How couldn’t it? But he showed balls. I don’t know what more that he could have done last week.
“My opinion on Benji is he is a work in progress … but at the bottom of it all, he cares about Wests Tigers.

“There’s been a lot of people over a period of time who didn’t care about the Wests Tigers. We want to build that and we need team leaders speaking their mind and we need coaches leading.”

WHAT NEXT

The Galvin saga is far from over. While the legal action continues to linger and speculation remains over Galvin’s future, the Tigers will be compulsory viewing.

Richardson insists that the Tigers can make it work.

“It can’t work if the kid himself doesn’t want to play,” Richardson said.

“I can tell you the worst thing you could do to Lachlan Galvin is tell him he can’t play football on the weekend. If he didn’t play reserve grade (last weekend), he’d be bashing his brothers in the backyard.

“He just can’t help himself. He is the fittest player in the club. He is the first here and the last to leave. He does all the extras.

“He’s into everything, running around the place. All he wants to do is play footy and all his parents want him to do is play footy. They made a decision that they think he’s best away from the club.

“That’s their decision. I don’t agree with it but that’s a decision. We’ll find out over the next 4-6 weeks where he’s at and how he’s fitted in from his performances on the field.

“But I’m not willing to draw a line through him at the moment. We’re out there to win every game possible. This is a very open competition.

“There’s probably two sides, maybe three that standout. The rest of us are all in the crocodile roll as I like to say. So why would I get rid of a generational player who wants to play.

“Even if a request came for him, it’s our decision whether we let him go or not.”

If there is a positive outcome of Galvin’s decision, it is that the Tigers can now start planning for the future with some certainty.

Late Fainu would likely have looked to leave had Galvin stayed. Now he shapes as his likely replacement in the halves.

The Galvin deal would also have put pressure on the Tigers’ salary cap but they now have money to spend and an appetite to spend it.

“He (Galvin) knows as well as we know that he hasn’t achieved anything yet,” Richardson said.

“Having said that, I think he’s an outstanding footballer. I think he will go on to play for Australia. It’s a huge loss for us in the sense of losing a junior.

“What we’ve done in the past is when we’ve lost juniors, we’ve moped around and whinged and wined and jumped up and down.

“What it has done and I will say this, it has allowed us time to be able to sit down with players that we’re going to be affected by us re-signing him.

“When you make a decision to offer a player $1 million going forward, you’ve got to make adjustments in your cap. They weren’t decisions we necessarily wanted to make.

“Now we can make decisions about what the roster looks like, what we need to buy, what we need to get. We’re in the marketplace now for that.

“Yeah, it is emotional … but from our club’s point of view we picked the best team possible this week. From our point of view, he is here for the next 18 months.

“From our point of view, we’ve never been bullies here. And the club is right behind Benji.”

Thanks for posting mate - a good read and lots to digest.

 

[Tucker]

No one from his camp has denied it, if it was not said. Simple thing to do.

Will this do? This is Richo saying this;

“The stuff about Benji and all the rest of it, he has never once said to us, not one time has he said to us, that Benji’s not a good coach or can’t coach,” Richardson said.

“What he said to us is he wants to be the best player I can be, and I believe that I can be that at another club.

“He’s never said (Marshall can’t coach). Lachlan is a very honest kid. He’s as simple as it gets. He loves his footy. If he were sitting here with you, he would be twirling the ball.

“He just loves his footy. He’s always had this thing in the back of his mind that he could obviously get a better opportunity elsewhere.

“The bottom line is though from that point of view, Lachlan has never said that in any way, shape or form (that Marshall can’t coach).”

 

[Robbie's Love Child]

GALVIN’S FUTURE

Galvin is back in the team this week for the game against Cronulla but the question will linger how long the marriage can survive given the legal action that is unfolding in the background and the teenager’s seemingly tenuous relationship with senior leaders.

Richardson insists the Tigers are ready to dig in their heels and relationship with senior players can be assuaged.

The plan is for Galvin to see out the remainder of his deal until the end of 2026 as rival clubs hover overhead.

“It’s not changed,” Richardson said.

“He’s never requested (a release). The bottom line from the club’s point of view, is he is here for the next 18 months. Football players are all about winning games.

“I don’t care who you are, where you are, they want to win the game. Now last week they didn’t feel like they could win a game, or the coach didn’t think they could win (with Galvin in the team).

“This week they feel they can. From my point of view, I don’t think that’s a concern.

“It’s business as usual. Our attitude as a club is he is here for the next 18 months and we’ll work our way forward from there.”

The other elephant in the room is the relationship between Marshall and Galvin. When Galvin said he wanted to leave the club in the best interests of his development it was taken as a shot at Marshall and his coaching ability.

“The stuff about Benji and all the rest of it, he has never once said to us, not one time has he said to us, that Benji’s not a good coach or can’t coach,” Richardson said.

“What he said to us is he wants to be the best player I can be, and I believe that I can be that at another club.

“He’s never said (Marshall can’t coach). Lachlan is a very honest kid. He’s as simple as it gets. He loves his footy. If he were sitting here with you, he would be twirling the ball.

“He just loves his footy. He’s always had this thing in the back of his mind that he could obviously get a better opportunity elsewhere.

“The bottom line is though from that point of view, Lachlan has never said that in any way, shape or form (that Marshall can’t coach).”

THE COACH

Marshall is in his second year at the helm of the Tigers and the signs have been promising. The club made a fast start to the season but the Galvin saga has threatened to undo some of that good work.

The Tigers had some tough calls go against them last weekend, but they capitulated late against Parramatta and the Sharks will be an even tougher proposition this week.

Even so, Marshall has walked away from recent events with his reputation enhanced. He was widely praised for the way he handled his press conference last week in the wake of the Galvin revelations and his decision to recall the teenager shows how important the Sharks game is.

“He’s learning so much,” Richardson said.

“I’ve said it before and people underestimate it, but he’s incredibly smart. He picks up salary caps, financial things, just like that.

“He’s just all over it and he’s always well prepared. His challenge has always been management – managing players and managing people.

“He’s got so much better. The other thing that needs to be understood is he’s had to manage very difficult circumstances.

“We had a roster that was full of young kids who weren’t ready to play first grade, and players that weren’t up to the standard that was required to play first grade.

“Now we’ve had to make tough decisions last year about them moving on and in every case we’ve gone to the manager and told them early what we wanted to do.

“He’s had to manage situations like the (John) Bateman situation. For a young coach in his first year, he’s not stepping into South Sydney, he’s stepping in the world of hurt.

“Management of people is what it’s all about. Is he good at managing people? He’s better than most, but he can be better and he learns all the time, he listens.

“Do I think he’s going to be a good coach? Yes, I do. Because he listens. He’s got some good people around him that give good advice.

“It rattled him last week. How couldn’t it? But he showed balls. I don’t know what more that he could have done last week.
“My opinion on Benji is he is a work in progress … but at the bottom of it all, he cares about Wests Tigers.

“There’s been a lot of people over a period of time who didn’t care about the Wests Tigers. We want to build that and we need team leaders speaking their mind and we need coaches leading.”

WHAT NEXT

The Galvin saga is far from over. While the legal action continues to linger and speculation remains over Galvin’s future, the Tigers will be compulsory viewing.

Richardson insists that the Tigers can make it work.

“It can’t work if the kid himself doesn’t want to play,” Richardson said.

“I can tell you the worst thing you could do to Lachlan Galvin is tell him he can’t play football on the weekend. If he didn’t play reserve grade (last weekend), he’d be bashing his brothers in the backyard.

“He just can’t help himself. He is the fittest player in the club. He is the first here and the last to leave. He does all the extras.

“He’s into everything, running around the place. All he wants to do is play footy and all his parents want him to do is play footy. They made a decision that they think he’s best away from the club.

“That’s their decision. I don’t agree with it but that’s a decision. We’ll find out over the next 4-6 weeks where he’s at and how he’s fitted in from his performances on the field.

“But I’m not willing to draw a line through him at the moment. We’re out there to win every game possible. This is a very open competition.

“There’s probably two sides, maybe three that standout. The rest of us are all in the crocodile roll as I like to say. So why would I get rid of a generational player who wants to play.

“Even if a request came for him, it’s our decision whether we let him go or not.”

If there is a positive outcome of Galvin’s decision, it is that the Tigers can now start planning for the future with some certainty.

Late Fainu would likely have looked to leave had Galvin stayed. Now he shapes as his likely replacement in the halves.

The Galvin deal would also have put pressure on the Tigers’ salary cap but they now have money to spend and an appetite to spend it.

“He (Galvin) knows as well as we know that he hasn’t achieved anything yet,” Richardson said.

“Having said that, I think he’s an outstanding footballer. I think he will go on to play for Australia. It’s a huge loss for us in the sense of losing a junior.

“What we’ve done in the past is when we’ve lost juniors, we’ve moped around and whinged and wined and jumped up and down.

“What it has done and I will say this, it has allowed us time to be able to sit down with players that we’re going to be affected by us re-signing him.

“When you make a decision to offer a player $1 million going forward, you’ve got to make adjustments in your cap. They weren’t decisions we necessarily wanted to make.

“Now we can make decisions about what the roster looks like, what we need to buy, what we need to get. We’re in the marketplace now for that.

“Yeah, it is emotional … but from our club’s point of view we picked the best team possible this week. From our point of view, he is here for the next 18 months.

“From our point of view, we’ve never been bullies here. And the club is right behind Benji.”

This again shows why Richo is going to be one of the most important signings the club has ever made, he has experience with dealing with scumbags and knows his stuff. Once Latu is ready it will be Galvin who. The fans just need to stick solid.

 

[fainty]

Great to hear from Richo. Man he just provides you with confidence that this club is in good hands.

 

[Telltails]

Never thought for a minute this was Lachlan's doing - if mum and Dad thought we were the best place for him he would be 6mil richer.

The contractual manoeuvres since are all at the hands of his manager and you have to question if his motives are in their best interest or clouded by his personal grievances. The parents also have to own their willingness to take that path and the impact it may have or had on their son. That is really hard to understand.

 

[Tucker]

Never thought for a minute this was Lachlan's doing - if mum and Dad thought we were the best place for him he would be 6mil richer.

The contractual manoeuvres since are all at the hands of his manager and you have to question if his motives are in their best interest or clouded by his personal grievances. The parents also have to own their willingness to take that path and the impact it may have or had on their son. That is really hard to understand.

I actually don’t think it’s all that complicated.
He has been here over 3 years and during that time, he and his parents have seen the club receive

• 3 x wooden spoons at NRL level,
• 1 x spoon, and 2 x bottom 3 finishes at KOE level
• Mixed results in Flegg but one of those was also a spoon.

Add to that the board in fighting, Hagi and Pascoe, 2 coaches sacked, lots of players leaving contracts early…..their mind was made up in 2023. The club threw a Hail Mary at them last year promoting him way ahead of time but the spoon finish likely sealed it. He was gone.
Nothing that’s occurred in 2025 has affected their decision. All the noise around Luai and co is just that. They found a better offer and that’s that. It’s not Benji’s or Richo’s or the player’s fault….its just the perfect storm of shit from 2022-24 that convinced them this place isn’t for them and that’s not a betrayal or snake behaviour or anything else…it’s just human nature to protect your son.

As a very stupid man once uttered…it is what it is and the club is paying for the pathetic performances it’s put in over the past 3 seasons.

 

[426Tlgerland]

Clubs will realise what they are going to get with singling Galvin
1, A great young footballer
2, scumbag Manager
3 Father who will want it all or else / see Tigers shit show
4 Current players in said team thinking this is great until shit starts , see Tigers shit show .
Galvin could now be a little on the nose to high up clubs , Manly , Dogs , Roosters all say no thanks , Parra a scum team / Cheating team will most likely be the landing spot , I would not keep Galvin even if he come in and said I messed up can you offer me a deal , simple answer should be absolutely not , tell dad to piss off

 

[twentyforty]

I wonder if the club can take legal action against these jounos. Theres got to be a defamation case here somewhere. Surely journos can't just make stuff up about whoever they want and publish it without any ramifications.

I think only small organisations can sue for defamation.
With all of this mud slinging directed at the club, I hope WT can sidestep and focus on the footy not the politics.

 

[Demps]

Sunday is just going to be awkward.

Dropped.
Sends a legal letter.
Back in the team.

I cannot imagine how the team are going to be accepting of such snakey behaviour.

Galvin is on the nose and it's quite clear he doesn't really and probably never wanted to be here.

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal]

Sunday is just going to be awkward.

Dropped.
Sends a legal letter.
Back in the team.

I cannot imagine how the team are going to be accepting of such snakey behaviour.

Galvin is on the nose and it's quite clear he doesn't really and probably never wanted to be here.

For a bloke who “probably never wanted to be here”, he sure does smile a lot. Even at Lidcombe on Monday with body guards and the worlds media documenting his every move - the kid was out there having fun with his Magpie mates.

He’ll probably get booed by the Leichhardt crowd this weekend but I doubt it’ll stop him enjoying his footy 👍

 

[Tucker]

Clubs will realise what they are going to get with singling Galvin
1, A great young footballer
2, scumbag Manager
3 Father who will want it all or else / see Tigers shit show
4 Current players in said team thinking this is great until shit starts , see Tigers shit show .
Galvin could now be a little on the nose to high up clubs , Manly , Dogs , Roosters all say no thanks , Parra a scum team / Cheating team will most likely be the landing spot , I would not keep Galvin even if he come in and said I messed up can you offer me a deal , simple answer should be absolutely not , tell dad to piss off

Did your father assist you in any career decisions?

 

[Telltails]

I actually don’t think it’s all that complicated.
He has been here over 3 years and during that time, he and his parents have seen the club receive

• 3 x wooden spoons at NRL level,
• 1 x spoon, and 2 x bottom 3 finishes at KOE level
• Mixed results in Flegg but one of those was also a spoon.

Add to that the board in fighting, Hagi and Pascoe, 2 coaches sacked, lots of players leaving contracts early…..their mind was made up in 2023. The club threw a Hail Mary at them last year promoting him way ahead of time but the spoon finish likely sealed it. He was gone.
Nothing that’s occurred in 2025 has affected their decision. All the noise around Luai and co is just that. They found a better offer and that’s that. It’s not Benji’s or Richo’s or the player’s fault….its just the perfect storm of shit from 2022-24 that convinced them this place isn’t for them and that’s not a betrayal or snake behaviour or anything else…it’s just human nature to protect your son.

As a very stupid man once uttered…it is what it is and the club is paying for the pathetic performances it’s put in over the past 3 seasons.

I'm not judging/surprised/ shocked for their reasons for wanting him to leave - once his contract here is complete.

His profile has been raised considerably by this club as his capacity to command a significantly increased salary at a ridiculously young age. Plenty of fans are not aware of talent at opposing clubs and his advancement/opportunity at this club has advanced that - the least they can do is honor the contract without the smear campaign.
His manager has consistently made money from the players that this club develops that he then earns a greater commission off.
Never ever thought we were a sure bet to keep him cause they were always going to have options and always said that I think he will be a great a player just not sure who it will be with.

 

[Tcat]

I liked the article regarding Richo and there's lots to take from it. I know it means nothing but any journo that has to refer to themselves as 'This Masthead' pisses me off. I hate the term for some reason.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Did your father assist you in any career decisions?

Assisting is one thing. Controlling is another. I’m sick of players getting talked about like they are pawns. Like suggestions that Moses might move Bula away from the club next. Does Bula have no say in the matter? He just obeys like a little whipped puppy? It’s crazy how under the thumb these players are and how accepted it is.

 

[Tucker]

I'm not judging/surprised/ shocked for their reasons for wanting him to leave - once his contract here is complete.

His profile has been raised considerably by this club as his capacity to command a significantly increased salary at a ridiculously young age. Plenty of fans are not aware of talent at opposing clubs and his advancement/opportunity at this club has advanced that - the least they can do is honor the contract without the smear campaign.
His manager has consistently made money from the players that this club develops that he then earns a greater commission off.
Never ever thought we were a sure bet to keep him cause they were always going to have options and always said that I think he will be a great a player just not sure who it will be with.

He has said he will honour the contract. There hasn’t been the smear on the coach that chicken littles on here claim. The agitation stuff for early release is very off putting though and I agree with you there. Both sides have played this poorly at times.
Let’s hope they can work it out as the side is stronger with him in it. Especially once Fainu returns and Lachie is moved out of the halves.

 

[Tucker]

Assisting is one thing. Controlling is another. I’m sick of players getting talked about like they are pawns. Like suggestions that Moses might move Bula away from the club next. Does Bula have no say in the matter? He just obeys like a little whipped puppy? It’s crazy how under the thumb these players are and how accepted it is.

This is a special case. When he was first pushing for a release he was under age.

 

[Demps]

For a bloke who “probably never wanted to be here”, he sure does smile a lot. Even at Lidcombe on Monday with body guards and the worlds media documenting his every move - the kid was out there having fun with his Magpie mates.

He’ll probably get booed by the Leichhardt crowd this weekend but I doubt it’ll stop him enjoying his footy 👍

All smiles, indeed.

But, we've heard the release requests last year and what's taken place over recent weeks.... it appears he doesn't want to be here and won't be here, as soon as he gets the chance.

Its quite sad really for both club and player.

Sure, he looked like he was having fun.
But I'm sure he'd rather be winning games.

This is quite the soap opera really.

 

[Telltails]

All smiles, indeed.

But, we've heard the release requests last year and what's taken place over recent weeks.... it appears he doesn't want to be here and won't be here, as soon as he gets the chance.

Its quite sad really for both club and player.

Sure, he looked like he was having fun.
But I'm sure he'd rather be winning games.

This is quite the soap opera really.

Lucky for us he has always been used to attention. Hopefully it will all be water off ducks back when the whistle goes and instinct takes over

 

[426Tlgerland]

Did your father assist you in any career decisions?

No , I selected my sport and he just watched and said nothing just enjoyed the game , he played soccer I played footy , no issue and he never got involved with coaches etc , Galvins father has always been in the middle mate , just a fact , he was a footy dad you don’t stand near at games

 

[Tucker]

All smiles, indeed.

But, we've heard the release requests last year and what's taken place over recent weeks.... it appears he doesn't want to be here and won't be here, as soon as he gets the chance.

Its quite sad really for both club and player.

Sure, he looked like he was having fun.
But I'm sure he'd rather be winning games.

This is quite the soap opera really.

People react differently under pressure and stress. I have a mate who cracks jokes when people die….even at their funerals. It pisses some people off whilst others realise it’s a coping mechanism.
Some players blast music, some sit in silence, whilst others spew their rings out. To me Lachie seems to go to a happy place…maybe he reminds himself why he is playing this game and remembers the joy it brought him as a child. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that he was one.