Cameron Ciraldo reveals why he dropped Lachlan Galvin before Bulldogs’ 12-8 win over Cowboys

Just what is the Bulldogs’ plan for star mid-season recruit Lachlan Galvin? The answer remains unclear as Cameron Ciraldo sensationally axed the young star before kick-off against the Cowboys.

Just what is the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ plan for star mid-season recruit Lachlan Galvin?

Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo sensationally dropped Galvin just before kick-off on Saturday night, opting against using the 19-year-old half against the Cowboys with Jaeman Salmon coming back into the team from an ankle fracture.

Ciraldo said he wanted four forwards on the bench as a tactical decision with Max King backing up from the State of Origin decider on Wednesday night.

“It was a hard one, because it would have been nice to have Lachie (Galvin) on there when ‘Burto’ (Matt Burton) went off,” Ciraldo said.

“I reckon if he was on there to bring him on with fresh legs at the back end of the game, I thought he could have really probably asked some more questions of the Cowboys defence.

“But I thought we needed four forwards on the bench. (Max) ‘Kingy’ is backing up from Origin, (it’s) Jaeman Salmon’s first game back.

Lachlan Galvin was dropped before kick-off against the Cowboys. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“We sort of looked at the Cowboys-Melbourne game last week. A lot of guys were cramping up in that last 20 minutes of the game, so we thought it was really important to carry an extra forward tonight.”

But with interchange utility Kurtis Morrin only coming on two short stints during the 12-8 victory on Saturday night – each less than 10 minutes – was it the right call?

A HIA on Matt Burton midway through the second half would have been the perfect opportunity for Galvin to shine, with Ciraldo conceding he questioned his decision at that point.

“When Burto went off, I was thinking maybe that wasn’t the right decision, but it was clearly the right decision, because our forwards all worked their arses off and it was tough out there. It was hot and humid.”

Galvin has now been at Canterbury-Bankstown for five games, and he has been used differently each week.

Lachlan Galvin’s role at the Bulldogs going forward remains unclear.

The impact of Galvin touching down in Belmore is also causing a ripple effect within the club with long-term hooker Reed Mahoney becoming the second spine player to announce their departure at season’s end.

Mahoney will join the Cowboys from 2026 while halfback Toby Sexton will head to France to join Super League side the Catalan Dragons.

Ciraldo shied away from a direct answer when quizzed about his long-term plans for Burton’s position in the squad.

“There’s some deep questions there. We’re just really happy to grind out a win tonight. That’s the main thing,” he said.

“We can worry about what the team looks like moving forward, but I’m not here to talk about that tonight. I’m just really happy with how tough the boys played.

“We won that game on – a lot of Burto’s kicking game was brilliant – but our scramble defence. So I think we’ll just celebrate that tonight and then worry about the team next week when we play the Dragons.”

MATCH REPORT

The Bulldogs held on for a thrilling 12-8 victory over the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday night, outlasting the North Queenslanders to narrowly win in a ruthless arm-wrestle.

It was the Cowboys’ best defensive effort of the season, keeping a team to just two tries for the first time in 2025, but the Bulldogs’ defence was even better.

The Cowboys broke 56 tackles and created five linebreaks to two, however the Canterbury-Bankstown defence always found a way to scramble for each other and make the all-important play – none better than Viliame Kikau dislodging the ball as Scott Drinkwater dived over in the second half.

North Queensland was strong through the opening 40 minutes but back-to-back Bulldogs tries in the dying stages of the first half gave Canterbury-Bankstown an unlikely 12-8 lead at the break.

Viliame Kikau produced the play of the game, denying Scott Drinkwater a try that could have won the game. Picture: Getty Images

North Queensland’s halves combined beautifully to open up space on both edges, working in tandem to create the first try with some outstanding interplay to spread the ball coast-to-coast and back again.

Neither team could find the chalk after the break as the game devolved into a brutal grind, but the Cowboys looked more likely as they battered the Bulldogs line – but couldn’t create the opportunities to retake the lead.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten said he was disappointed his players couldn’t capitalise on their opportunities.

“In the game up to our eyeballs and we had opportunities to win. We went over the tryline twice – disallowed,” Payten said.

“I watched a team that was connected and fighting hard throughout the whole 80-minute period, (but) we’ve got some parts of our game that are costing us dearly and I’m losing sleep at night working out how to fix that.”

BURTON GALVANISED IN NO.6

Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo sensationally dropped Lachlan Galvin just before kick-off on Saturday night, opting against using the 19-year-old half against the Cowboys with Jaeman Salmon coming back into the team from an ankle fracture.

Ciraldo said the move was to ensure he had four forwards on the interchange when tired legs came into play in the late stages.

“It was a hard one, because it would have been nice to have Lachie on there when ‘Burto’ went off, and I reckon if he was on there to bring him on with fresh legs at the back end of the game, I thought he could have really probably asked some more questions of the Cowboys defence,” Ciraldo said.

Lachlan Galvin was sensationally dropped an hour before kick-off in the Bulldogs v Cowboys clash. Picture: Getty Images

“But thought we needed four forwards on the bench. (Max) ‘Kingy’ is backing up from Origin, (it’s Jaeman Salmon’s first game back.

“We sort of looked at the Cowboys-Melbourne game last week. A lot of guys were cramping up in that last 20 minutes of the game, so we thought it was really important to carry an extra forward tonight.”

The attack flowed well without the teenage talent, and five-eighth Matt Burton was a shining light for the Bulldogs on both edges of the field and with his unmatched kicking game.

Burton set up his team’s first try with a great grubber for Jacob Preston, finishing the game with a try assist, linebreak assist, two broken tackles and 419 kicking metres

The talented playmaker left the field for a HIA halfway through the second half after he was rocked attempting to tackle Griffin Neame, returning 15 minutes later after passing the assessment.

TINKERING TODD

Cowboys coach Todd Payten made a number of positional changes for the game, with Maroons star Tom Dearden switching to the right edge of the field.

It was the first time Dearden has played on the right this season, switching places with Jaxon Purdue who has played on the right in each of his starts at five-eighth this year.

Payten said he could stick with the change moving forward depending on the availability of players.

“I haven’t given it a lot of thought. I’m not opposed to running out that way next week. It went awry yesterday with Jake (Clifford) doing his quad.

“Then having a look at both edges and the match up, I decided to go with the change. So food for thought and we’ll discuss it over the next couple of days.”

Jeremiah Nanai was also moved back to his familiar right edge after Payten switched the Queensland representative to the left in 2025, with Reuben Cotter playing on the left edge in his first NRL start in the No.11 jersey.

Murray Taulagi was named in the centres just before kick-off, but played on the left wing outside Braidon Burns and Purdue.

Despite having more linebreaks and tackle breaks, the Cowboys fell short. Picture: Getty Images

HALFTIME HORROR

The Cowboys almost managed to keep the Bulldogs scoreless for the entire first half, but a trademark lapse of concentration just before the break allowed the visitors to score back-to-back tries and head into the sheds leading 12-8

First Toby Sexton and Burton combined to put Jacob Preston over on the right edge three minutes out from halftime.

The Bulldogs scored again on the final play of the half through debutant Jethro Rinakama after Cowboys centre Braidon Burns was taken off the field by the independent doctor a minute after staying down from what appeared to be a high tackle.

Burns was sent to the sideline for an HIA despite officials clearing Josh Curran of any foul play and the Bulldogs immediately made the Cowboys pay.

Without a back on the pine, Karl Lawton came onto the field to play at centre and he was burnt for pace on the outside, opening the door for 19-year-old Rinakama to score his first career try.

The five minutes before halftime is becoming a real issue for the men from North Queensland, and it needs to be addressed quickly if the Cowboys are to have any hope of making finals.

Originally published as Cameron Ciraldo reveals why he dropped Lachlan Galvin before Bulldogs’ 12-8 win over Cowboys