NRL

2 weeks ago

Tigers duo's brutal sledge of Galvin amid exit saga

By Sam Kosack

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Lachlan Galvin showed maturity beyond his 19-years when he spoke out to explain his decision to walk away from Wests Tigers, but some of his current (and older) teammates did quite the opposite in their social media sledging of the teen.

Galvin broke his silence on Tuesday to explain that he was looking to leave the club when his current contract expires centres in a bid to improve his development as a half.

There were also reports of a rift between him, and coach Benji Marshall, as well as other senior players.

"I totally understand my decision will frustrate many Wests Tigers fans, but please know that it wasn’t an easy call to make," Galvin told the The Daily Telegraph.

"It's a decision that I have discussed at length with my parents, close friends, and family. I'm extremely grateful for their love and support in making this call.

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"I just feel that as I move into an important period of my development as a half, that I continue to build my game at a different club.

"The biggest reason why I made this call now is so that the Wests Tigers have enough time to plan their roster without me in the future. That’s the absolute truth of it.

"I thought it would be best for everyone to make the call now rather than drag it out. Any suggestion I already have a deal done at another club for 2027 is simply not true."

THE FALL OUT

Reports suggest senior leaders in the playing group wanted Galvin dropped, including co-captain Jarome Luai, who posted an Instagram story with the caption "Team First".

Luai's post was followed by winger Sunia Turuva then posted a video on Instagram of Galvin's locked accompanied by the song "Here comes the money".

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The news comes as Galvin has been relegated to reserve grade before the club's important Easter Monday clash with the Parramatta Eels.

SEN's Bryan Fletcher was surprised by Galvin's admission that Benji Marshall wasn't the right coach to help his career.

"He must be the most mature 19-year-old I've ever come across," Fletcher said on SEN 1170 Drive.

"He must really study his football... you're learning off a bloke who played six and was very successful at it.

"I would be so shocked if that's Lachie Galvin saying that... I'd like to know if he's actually said that.

"Wests Tigers won't make the eight without him!

"As a senior player saying 'yeah drop him', this is a big game... but I understand there's more to this now."

JOHNS SLAMS TIGERS

Matty Johns slammed the Tigers for swinging the axe.

"If I'm Benji Marshall I couldn't give two s--ts what Lachie Galvin thinks of me... (I'm saying) 'son, I'm picking you in the team and I need you to win for me'," Johns said.

"Now, on the other side of the coin, the senior players come to me and say they don't want to play alongside him? Okay, I take that on board but at the end of the day I'm the coach and if I make the decision the side is better with Lachie in the team, I pick him.

"Benji's coaching future is going to be decided on what happens between now and October so in my opinion he has to pick the best side.

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SEN 1170 Drive co-host Joel Caine questioned if dropping Galvin to reserve grade helped ease the tension at the club.

"Does it serve anyone well him playing for Wests?" Caine said.

"I'd be saying 'this has blown up, we're just going to give him the weekend off'.

"It's a really bad look to name him in Wests (Magpies).

"We don't need to be embarrassing a 19-year-old!"

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