Six months ago Lachlan Galvin wanted out of the Tigers, now the rookie is rallying club’s best teens to commit long-term

Lachlan Galvin has gone from wanting to leave the Wests Tigers six months ago to rallying the club’s best rookies to stick with the joint venture long-term.

Boom rookie Lachlan Galvin has revealed the motivation behind his Wests Tigers contract backflip, as coach Benji Marshall opened up on the “daily battle” he faces with the teen sensation.

Galvin said he is determined to help his Harold Matthews title-winning teammates build a dynasty that can one day rival Penrith for homegrown NRL domination.

Galvin’s management had requested a contract release, on three separate occasions, citing fears over the club’s aggressive recruitment strategy in the halves.

There were concerns within the Galvin camp that the additions of Jayden Sullivan, Aidan Sezer, Latu Fainu and Jarome Luai would block the youngster’s path to a halves spot in the NRL.

But Galvin now not only wants to see out the remaining two years on his deal, but become a one-club player.

“One hundred per cent, with Benji here I can see myself also being here for a long time,” Galvin said.

“The confidence Benji has put in me and how much he makes me love turning up to training and playing for the Tigers, yeah absolutely I can see myself being here long term.”

Rookie fullback Lachlan Galvin wants to build a Tigers dynasty. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

The last meeting between Galvin’s management and the club took place in February, where assurances were made about his path into the NRL side.

Marshall blooded the local junior in the Tigers’ season opener and this week doubled down on his commitment to Galvin, who is now the front runner to partner Luai in the halves in 2025.

“In my plans, he is a big part of our future moving forward. Someone that I can see playing the game for the next 20 years, with Lachlan, he’s just a great kid that stuff externally will take of itself with his management,” Marshall said.

“We love that he wants to be here, he’s a big part of what we do and he’s a big part of how we want to shape the next 10 years at our club.”

Galvin was part of the Harold Matthews (under 17s) outfit that won the title for Western Suburbs Magpies in 2022.

He is now one of three players from that side, including hooker Tallyn Da Silva and forward Kit Laulilii, to make their NRL debut since.

Galvin wants as many of his Harold Matthews teammates to commit to the club in a bid to build a dynasty at the Tigers, in a similar fashion to Penrith’s premiership success that came on the back of its local juniors.

Wests Magpies Kit Laulilii, Tallyn Da Silva, Jeremiah Leatigaga, Jordan Miller, Lachlan Galvin, James Folaumoetui in 2022. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Yeah, 100 per cent it’s something we have spoken about. All us younger boys, even the ones that aren’t there yet at the NRL, hopefully soon there are more of us, want to stay here,” Galvin said.

“We can build the NRL squad around us and in a few years we are all playing together. Penrith’s local junior helped them win three premierships. I know all of us Campbelltown juniors want to be a part of something bigger like that and we’ll be doing our best to do that for the Tigers.”

The likes of five-eighth Heath Mason and prop Jordan Miller, who is signed until the end of 2026, are also highly rated as future NRL prospects. Mason will be handed a development deal in 2025 but is currently sidelined for the next eight weeks with a hand injury.

But Tigers fans won’t be forced to wait to see the club’s best rising talent at NRL level.

“Honestly, I’m not afraid to put in kids that have never played as long as they have earned it,” Marshall said.

“I feel like if they are good enough, they are old enough. If they are a local junior, even better for us.

“We are putting an investment in our players coming through instead of trying to recruit every player let’s try and develop them.”

While Marshall had no qualms in selecting Galvin in round two, the job of developing the young playmaker during this crucial point of his NRL career is a daily battle for the rookie coach.

TallynDa Silva. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

“The temptation to not take away his natural instincts is a thing I have to battle with daily,” Marshall said.

“When you watch him train, there are things he does that other players don’t do because they are so hung up on block plays or a process they have in their head that has been drilled into them. Where Lachlan sees it and plays.

“You can’t teach that but you can take it away.

“I try my hardest not to tell him, he has to do ‘this, this, and this’.”

“I try and fill him up with confidence and give him permission before every game, you can do what you like on the field.”

Part of that development included sitting Galvin, who is serving a two-match ban for a hip drop tackle, in the coach’s box last weekend against the Dolphins.

“You’d never know he’s only 18. We decided to take him to Redcliffe last week. When I was out injured I learned a lot about the game from the coach’s box … what the coach’s want, the messages they send out at what parts of the game,” Marshall said.

“We had Lachlan in the box on the weekend to understand what we are looking for. He’s a great leaner and nothing is ever a drama for him.”

Originally published as Six months ago Lachlan Galvin wanted out of the Tigers, now the rookie is rallying club’s best teens to commit long-term