Lachlan Galvin will reportedly be sensationally axed for Wests Tigers’ Easter Monday clash against the Eels, in the wake of his looming exit from the club.
After Galvin refused to entertain a new $5 million contract and the Tigers announced he would leave after next season, Nine Newspapers and the Daily Telegraph both reported on Tuesday that Galvin would be dropped for the Parramatta game and his No.6 jersey likely given to Adam Doueihi.
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It remains to be seen if this will impact Wests Tigers’ insistence that Galvin will see out his contract, ending after the 2026 season.
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Frustrated Wests Tigers players reportedly may want Galvin released from the club early and potential long-term half Latu Fainu (currently injured) brought into the side permanently, earlier reports said, to put the team and its future first; especially given Galvin’s apparent lack of faith in coach Benji Marshall.
A Nine report has exposed tension between not only Galvin and Marshall, but also superstar teammate Jarome Luai.
It also emerged that fellow young star Fonua Pole liked an Instagram post criticising Galvin.
“Unf---ingbelievable. We give you a shot at first grade and hand you the keys to the franchise with every tool possible around you to succeed cya mate,” said the Instagram post that Pole liked.
“Surely there’s no need to keep him around? Throw Doueihi or Bird at 6 until Latu returns if we’re serious about building and moving forward as a club.”
The Tigers have stated they will not release Galvin early with his deal expiring in November 26, but that could hurt Fainu’s development and may no longer be tenable given the star playmaker’s sudden demotion.
Tigers CEO Shane Richardson would privately be open to releasing Galvin early, provided the Tigers benefit from the deal, which could involve a player swap or a financial incentive like a transfer fee.
Fainu is in the second season of a four-year deal with the Tigers and the 19-year-old has scored three tries in 11 NRL games to date.
The latest development comes after it emerged Galvin doesn’t believe he will develop into the best player possible at the Tigers under Marshall, according to a bombshell report.
Benji a reason for Galvin exit? | 02:39
The NRL world was rocked on Monday when Fox League’s James Hooper broke the news that Galvin had informed Tigers brass that he will test his value on the open market, thus rejecting a $5 million offer from the club.
Under contract until the end of next season, Galvin can negotiate with rivals from November 1.
The Tigers responded to Hooper’s report with a passive-aggressive press release which read: “We would like to announce that Lachlan Galvin will not be with the club beyond the 2026 season.”
“Despite the club having the largest contract offer for a junior in the history of the club on the table, Lachlan and his management have decided his future lies elsewhere and were not willing to review the offer.”
According to the SMH, money isn’t the main factor behind Galvin’s decision. Coaching is.
The SMH’s Michael Chammas then revealed in a story on Monday afternoon that according to sources, Galvin and his team had doubts over Marshall’s ability to develop him at the club.
'This is Benji's greatest test' | 01:16
In addition, there is animosity between Galvin’s agent Isaac Moses and Marshall. Adding yet another layer, Galvin and Jarome Luai aren’t on the best of terms.
“There is a view internally that Galvin is wary of Marshall’s close relationship with new recruit Jarome Luai,” Chammas reported.
“While Galvin and Luai are civil, they don’t share a close bond and Galvin is understood to have been frustrated by the impact of being asked to play second fiddle to the four-time premiership-winning playmaker.
“Luai also has a high opinion of back-up five-eighth Latu Fainu, who is currently unavailable after undergoing surgery on his thumb last week.”
The same report said: “Some Tigers players have grown concerned at a perceived sense of entitlement from Galvin.”
Marshall had discussed Galvin’s future with him last week, asking the teen sensation if he wanted to remain a Tiger, with Galvin stating he wanted to test the open market rather than wanting to leave.
Galvin has been looking for a way out for some time, but many believed that because of the Tigers’ hot start and successful free agency acquisitions of Jarome Luai, Terrell May and others, that the 19-year-old was coming around to signing a long-term deal with the joint venture club.
Unfortunately for the Tigers’ passionate fanbase, that appears to be a near impossibility now.
