Insta-ban, no alcohol and chicken schnitzels: Inside the mind of Lachlan Galvin

The rugby league world is in a frenzy over Lachlan Galvin’s decision to walk away from the Wests Tigers - David Riccio and Brent Read reveal why the most famous teenager in the NRL couldn’t care less.

Lachlan Galvin will run onto Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon with the weight of the world on his shoulders and a point to prove.

If history is any guide, it won’t worry him.

Two years ago, in the NSW secondary schools championship final, Galvin feared he had cost Westfield Sports High the title when he dropped the ball over the line with only minutes remaining in the game against Blacktown Patrician Brothers.

Remarkably, his teammates helped save him that day but Galvin was inconsolable afterwards.

Once his tears had been wiped away, Galvin made a promise to his coach at the time, Troy Weeden.

He vowed to atone in the national grand final by leading Westfields Sports High to a win over Palm Beach Currumbin.

Galvin more than lived up to his word, scoring two tries in the opening ten minutes, winning the Peter Sterling medal as player of the tournament and leading Westfields Sports High to be crowned the best schoolboys team in the country.

That moment, as much as any, gives you an insight into the mental strength that has allowed Galvin to remain calm in the eye of the storm that has enveloped the 19-year-old and the entire Wests Tigers club over the past 10-days.

Lachlan Galvin at West Tigers training this morning at Concord Oval. Photo Jeremy Piper

While the rest of the rugby league world has been in a frenzy over Galvin’s revelation that he is leaving the club at the end of 2026, the teenager is capable of running onto the grand old ground with the same smile and accompanying football spinning on his finger, that he has displayed throughout the ongoing saga.

When he was sent back to NSW Cup on Easter Monday by head coach Benji Marshall, Galvin didn’t complain or kick up a fuss.

Shadowed onto Lidcombe Oval by a private security guard, Galvin tried everything he could to make an impact for Western Suburbs against Parramatta’s reserve grade team.

He ran with the ball 36 times for 200-plus metres, kicked the ball eight times, made 21 tackles and didn’t miss any.

Those close to Galvin were not surprised.

Where some see an uppity teenager who is getting ahead of himself - remembering he told the Tigers he wanted to leave in the best interests of his development - those who know him best talk about an obsessed footballer with razor-focus whose only ambition has been to become a rugby league player who traverses through every level of the game including NRL, State of Origin and Australia.

That has been his goal for as long as he can remember.

If the last 10-days haven’t proven already, Galvin knows exactly what he wants out of his football and he’s willing to sacrifice much of what most other teenagers wouldn’t contemplate.

Ahead of his return to first grade at Leichhardt Oval, Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson was asked how Galvin would handle the drama that has swirled around him this week.

“If anyone in the world could it is him,” Richardson said.

“He doesn’t think about anything else bar footy. I went away on a trip to Brisbane with them and that meant sitting in the team room with them, at breakfast with them, listening and watching.

“He’s a bit of a loner. He sits on the periphery of everything. He’s got his own thoughts about things. One thing he is he’s committed to being the best he can be.

“And he’s never made any secret of that. And he honestly believes that he can be better somewhere else. From my point of view, there is absolutely no animosity between me and Lachlan and his family.

“He’s got a lovely family.”

FAMILY FIRST

Galvin actually has two families.

His direct family including his father James, his mother Tracey and his siblings.

His other family is the students and teachers at Westfields Sports High, a sanctuary where Galvin returns as often as he can.

A day or two before his agent Isaac Moses sat down to inform Richardson that Galvin wouldn’t be at the club after 2026, the Tigers stars spent the day back at Westfields Sports High helping coach the kids.

Galvin is happy just picking up cones.

His teachers take joy out of seeing him. Those close to him suggest the contract saga at the Tigers haven’t impacted him one bit because he is so focused on getting the most out of his career.

Richardson has already declared Galvin will one day play for NSW and Australia.

His coaches and mentors have prepared him for the day when that arrives, making it clear that success brings with it the sort of scrutiny he has been under in recent weeks.

His coaches at school talk about the most competitive and hardworking individual they have come across at that level.

At 15, he would knock on the door of his rugby league teacher’s classrooms to talk about the Storm, Roosters or Panthers playing that previous weekend, how they won, how they got beat, and compare what he was doing as a half at school to what the NRL’s best playmakers were doing.

The only time he got in trouble at school was when he forgot to wear a tie or spent too long on the footy field, making him late for his next class.

LEVEL HEAD

Millions of dollars isn’t all Galvin is willing to sacrifice. He makes decisions that other teenagers today rarely contemplate.

For example, until recently, social media had never been part of Galvin’s life.

That alone, is an impossible task for most teens.

He only joined Instagram in October last year due to a sponsorship arrangement with apparel and clothing supplier, Struddys.

He has posted only 19 times since then.

Galvin also doesn’t drink alcohol.

His idea of a good night out is watching his school mates play footy or staying at home to watch Super Saturday on Fox League, where he can dine out on one of his mum’s home cooked meals.

Apparently, his dish of choice is a plate of chicken schnitzel.

He loves the game and always has. So much so, despite the maelstrom around him, Galvin wanted to travel straight from Lidcombe Oval last Monday afternoon to CommBank Stadium to support his Wests Tigers teammates against the Eels.

It was suggested to him, seemingly by nervous Tigers officials, that he opt against it, with the club wanting to avoid the possibility of Galvin’s presence attracting further headlines.

All Galvin ever thinks about, all he ever talks about, all he ever wants to do well at, is be a good footballer.

The past week or so has no doubt been eye-opening for Galvin. Those in his world suggest he understands that if he wants to play for New South Wales and Australia, the attention comes with the territory.

Scrutiny will follow and the past week or so has given him a snapshot of what he can expect if he gets to where he wants to go.

Lachlan Galvin (second from right) with former Westfields Sports High teammates (from left) Sam Tuivaiti, Tallyn Da Silva and Roy Quiroz-Mapusua. Picture: David Swift

NOT ABOUT MONEY

It isn’t about money for Galvin. Never has been. Those close to him have talked about scenarios where he may be offered $1 million by one club and half that by another.

Galvin’s response has always been the same. Forget the money, I just want to get better. The Tigers saga has demonstrated that he is willing to back his words with actions.

The easy option for Galvin would have been to stay at the Tigers and accept a deal that would have made him the richest young player in the game.

Galvin would have received a significant upgrade this year and next year as well as $5 million over five years from 2027.

All told, the deal was believed to be worth around $6 million.

Galvin didn’t even consider it. His mind had already been made up and even the promise of rivers of gold wasn’t going to change it.

His priority right now is becoming the very best he can be. The money will come.

Richardson knew the moment that Galvin rejected their offer he was wasting his time pushing on.

Galvin is leaving an insane amount of money on the table by rejecting the Tigers. He hasn’t given it a second thought.

As one of his mentors pointed out, no-one is going to remember your contract saga when you’re at a club you want to be at and you’re holding up a premiership trophy.

Back in the NRL at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday, you won’t catch Galvin shying away from the prospect of jeers from upset Tigers fans.

You’ll find a teenager smiling and doing what he loves most.