Source : the age
There were no boos from the crowd and a group of Wests Tigers staff made sure they surrounded their man as he came from the field to be greeted by a big media scrum at Lidcombe Oval on Monday.
About 500 people turned up to witness the latest chapter in the stand-off between Lachie Galvin and the Tigers.
Rather than join his Tigers teammates up the road at CommBank Stadium for the big Easter Monday NRL clash against the Eels in front of 30,000 fans, Galvin was dropped to the NSW Cup and named to play for Wests Magpies against Parramatta.
Galvin set up a try, and should have had a second try assist, only for Solomona Faataape to spill the ball over the try line, but the controversial Tigers half found it difficult to get involved with such little possession and decent field position in the 22-10 loss to the Eels.
Galvin told the Tigers he had no plans to remain at Concord beyond 2026, and was quickly axed from first grade, before his management fired off a legal letter claiming the youngster was being bullied and had not been provided with a safe working environment.
For what it is worth, Feleti Mateo, the former Eels back-rower who now works with the Tigers’ welfare team, was at the game.
Wests Tigers NRL young gun Lachlan Galvin runs out for the Western Suburbs Magpies.Credit: Max Mason-Hubers
So, too, was Tigers hooker Tallyn Da Silva, who won the 2022 Harold Matthews competition with Galvin, and remains close with his family.
Da Silva was due to play in the NRL game against Parramatta, but was never going to miss the chance to support his friend, even if he was cutting it fine.
“I’ve come down to watch Lachie; there’s a pretty big turnout,” Da Silva said. “I always come down and try to watch the Cup and Flegg boys, and support them.”
Asked if he felt for Galvin, Da Silva told this masthead: “Yeah. But it’s footy at the end of the day. He’s got a job to do, and I’ve got a job to do this weekend. That’s all I can worry about at the moment.”
Lachlan Galvin set up a try but had little genuine impact for the Western Suburbs Magpies in the NSW Cup.Credit: Max Mason-Hubers
Pressed on whether he wanted Galvin to stay, Da Silva said: “You’ll have to ask him that, but 100 per cent I would, for sure.”
Da Silva was one of the few Tigers players not gagged by the club. Galvin remained tight-lipped, his father, James, shook his head and even started walking backwards when approached by this masthead, while NSW Cup coach Aaron Payne was also off limits.
One player who did praise Galvin was the man who marked up on him, Parramatta back-rower Bryce Cartwright, who knows all too well what it is like to be the main topic of conversation in the NRL.
Tally Da Silva shows his support for Lachie Galvin at Lidcombe OvalCredit: Max Mason-Hubers
Cartwright experienced a personal issue with a former partner, rather than a contract controversy, but said the intense interest was bound to take a toll on a young player.
“He shouldn’t be playing Cup,” Cartwright said. “I don’t think he’ll be playing here for long because he’s way too good for this [grade].
“It was a good win for us, but a hard week for him, especially with how young he is.
“I can sort of imagine what he’s going through with everyone talking about you and things going on [behind the scenes].
“I know what it’s like to be in the news and have all that noise. It’s hard, and it gets to you.
James Galvin was among the 500-strong crowd to watch his son.Credit: Max Mason-Hubers
“I don’t really know him, but he seems like a good kid with a good head on his shoulders. I’m happy he has support at home, and that will help him a lot.”
Tigers coach Benji Marshall could not be at the game because of his NRL commitments.
Marshall said on Thursday that he felt “sorry” for Galvin, but was adamant there was not a bullying culture at the Tigers and that the young five-eighth would not only return to the NRL with the club, but see out the remaining 18 months of his deal.
Parramatta are seen as the favourites to land Galvin’s services. Cartwright said Galvin would be excellent alongside an organising halfback such as Mitchell Moses.
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