NRL 2024: Wests Tigers CEO vows to bring in additional support for Benji Marshall in bid to keep Lachlan Galvin at club

The Wests Tigers have made a desperate plea for Lachlan Galvin to remain with the club, vowing to provide additional support for head coach Benji Marshall in a bid to keep the boom rookie.

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 24: Lachlan Galvin of the Tigers looks on after a Cowboys try during the round 12 NRL match between North Queensland Cowboys and Wests Tigers at Qld Country Bank Stadium, on May 24, 2024, in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson has vowed to provide Lachlan Galvin every opportunity to develop his craft, including providing additional support for rookie head coach Benji Marshall.

The development has emerged as Galvin prepares to give the Wests Tigers more time to aid his development as a five-eighth.

The teenager’s parents met with Richardson in an emergency meeting last Wednesday, where the CEO outlined his plan and reasons why the 18-year-old was pivotal to the club’s future.

The meeting was organised amid reports that Galvin was seeking permission to speak with rival clubs. Galvin is contracted to the club until the end of 2026.

Richardson pleaded with Galvin and his family for patience as he attempted to turn the club around.

The club’s bloodletting of players, including the departure of Isaiah Papalii, Jake Simpkin and possibly Stefano Utoikamanu at the end of this year, was raised as a concern by Galvin and his family.

Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson met with the family of Lachlan Galvin on Thursday. Picture: NRL Photos

So too was his continued development under rookie Marshall, who has been thrust into the impossible task of resurrecting the perennially underachieving club.

Richardson has assured Galvin that the club will consider adding support to Marshall, in the way of more experience around him, in order to help ease the pressure of which few rookie coaches would be willing to undertake.

Richardson told SEN radio on Thursday that Galvin’s frustrations had little to do with wanting out to secure more money.

The Tigers have assured Lachlan Galvin will be considered additional support to Benji Marshall. Picture: NRL Photos

“I remember when I took over Souths and we had John Sutton there and they were all chasing John Sutton at 18, he’d played in 11 successive grand finals and won them,‘’ Richardson said.

“Wherever John Sutton played he won.

“And Lachie is the same. He’s played 11 grand finals in a row and won them.

“And therefore he comes into first grade and you get a wooden spoon and you’re battling every day, it’s not the world you’ve been in.

“So I don’t think it’s got anything to do with money.

“I know it’s not about money. I met with the parents and I’ve had lots of discussions with them.‘’