Balmain legends Garry Jack and Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach torn over Benji Marshall’s decision to drop Lachlan Galvin

Benji Marshall’s decision to drop Lachlan Galvin has divided Tigers legends, with one believing the young star should still be in the side, while another labelled him a “disgrace” in an all-time spray.

Balmain legend Garry Jack has insisted Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall should have instantly rejected his senior players and picked Lachlan Galvin in first grade, declaring: “Benji should have the final say, not the players.”

And Jack broke with public opinion to say: “I support Galvin, 100 per cent.”

It comes as former Test halfback Greg Alexander claimed Galvin’s treatment on social media by teammates was “borderline bullying.”

Jack, who played 244 NRL games for Balmain and a further five with Wests Magpies, is adamant Galvin should have been selected for Easter Monday’s NRL game against Parramatta “on merit.”

Instead Galvin will play in a NSW Cup game for Wests Magpies at Lidcombe Oval after senior players, including Jarome Luai, Api Koroisau and Terrell May, approached Marshall on Monday claiming they didn’t want the 19-year-old old in their side to play Parramatta.

Tigers players Luai, Sunia Turuva and Fonua Pole then took to social media to post cryptic messages questioning Galvin’s decision to quit the club after next season.

Garry Jack playing for Balmain in 1987. Picture: Philip Brown

Garry Jack. Picture: Supplied

“Galvin should be picked on merit. He has played well this year and the Tigers have three wins on the board,” Jack said.

“If he’s not playing well, fair enough, drop him, but if he’s playing well, which he is, I think it’s unfair, very unfair, (to dump him) absolutely. This is a professional sport.

“The players are very important but, seriously, they don’t run the show. Benji is the coach. Coaches coach, players play. As I said, he should pick players on their merit. He was the RLPA rookie-of-the-year last season wasn’t he?

“Benji should have the final say, not the players.

Jack believes Benji Marshall should have selected Galvin. Picture: NRL

“I understand loyalty - I played 14 years at Balmain - and I know what it’s like to have players that want to leave but it’s his career and his life and he has to look after himself. That’s it.

“It’s the same with Dylan Brown, I understood his decision too.

“I support Lachlan, 100 per cent.

“I think everyone’s attitude will change soon. Whether it’s two weeks or two months, people will be more understanding of his position.

“At the moment, fans are upset and angry and I understand that but I think they will soften their attitude as time goes by and move towards him.

“What he did do wrong was say (he would be leaving) now rather than later because you can’t do anything about it until the end of next year. I’m not sure why they went so early.”

Alexander said Galvin’s treatment was “getting close to bullying.”

“I think it’s gone far enough,” Alexander told SEN. “Do you think it’s acceptable what the players are doing against Galvin. It’s borderline.

“To be having a crack at a teammate, even though he had a swipe at the club, and more specifically about Benji, I think the social media stuff from players is on the edge of going too far.”

‘DISRESPECTFUL DISGRACE’: ‘BLOCKER’ BLASTS GALVIN

Tigers legend Steve Roach has labelled departing star Lachlan Galvin a “disrespectful disgrace” for condemning head coach Benji Marshall while urging the club to start an immediate chase for Manly star Daly Cherry-Evans.

Roach’s passionate comments as angry Wests Tigers fans turn on Galvin through the player’s social media platforms.

The Galvin camp has claimed the exciting young five-eighth wants to quit Wests Tigers for fear he won’t reach his potential under Marshall.

“After what he said about the head coach, who was one of the best attacking players to ever play the game, it’s a disgrace and disrespectful,” Roach said.

Balmain Tigers legend Steve Roach has commended the club after axing Galvin from first grade.

“I’d find it hard to play alongside him now if I was a teammate.

“Every young five-eighth in the competition, every five-eighth in the competition, would want to learn off Benji in how to dissect, bust-up and manipulate defences.

“Benji was a genius at it. What does Galvin want? Who does he want to coach him? Wally Lewis?

“I commend the Tigers for playing hard ball. The club has been trodden on for so many years now. They have stood their ground and good on them.”

With Galvin’s time at Wests Tigers seemingly coming to an end, Roach encouraged Wests Tigers to hunt down Cherry-Evans, who will leave Manly after this season.

Blocker says the Wests Tigers should sign Daly Cherry-Evans to replace Galvin. Picture: Getty Images

“Wests Tigers should go after Cherry-Evans. Get him! Go and sign him for two years…him and Jarome Luai together,” Roach said.

“Give Cherry-Evans $1m. He is still in the top three halfbacks in the competition and the Tigers would climb up the ladder.

“If you’re going to give a kid $1m, then go and give it to ‘Cherry’. You watch the attraction that gets. You know what I mean?

“Throw in (Sunia) Turuva, Api Koroisau and the fullback (Jahream Bula), mate, I’m telling you…”

“And if they can’t get Cherry-Evans, then go after Jamal Fogarty.

“When I was a 19-year-old kid, I put my head down and tried to win respect from my teammates, not be worried about $1m.

“The thing is that he bagged Benji and Galvin is also a ‘6’. It would be like me bagging Arthur Beetson.”

Galvin failed to shut down his Instagram account, allowing fans to vent and post their frustrations and the hostility towards the playmaker was clear.

Originally published as Balmain legends Garry Jack and Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach torn over Benji Marshall’s decision to drop Lachlan Galvin