NRL 2024: Wests Tigers trio Lachlan Galvin, Tallyn Da Silva and Luke Laulilii miss team bus in Auckland
It’s been revealed that three of the Wests Tigers’ brightest young prospects missed the team bus in Auckland. See what boss Shane Richardson had to say over the absence of the trio.
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Three of the Tigers’ brightest young prospects missed the team bus in Auckland with Tigers boss Shane Richardson leaping to their defence declaring the players were simply looking after each other.
It is understood that youngsters Lachlan Galvin, Tallyn Da Silva and Luke Laulilii were not on the bus from the team’s hotel to the airport to fly back to Sydney on Saturday following their loss to the Warriors the night before.
The trio – close friends who have grown up together – ended up staying in the same room with Galvin and Da Silva looking after Laulilii who failed to finish the game because of a concussion.
The incident is not understood to be alcohol related with the trio understood to have slept in after one of the players inadvertently turned off their alarm.
The players eventually made their own way to the airport in time for the team’s flight back to Sydney with the assistance of a staff member.
Richardson confirmed the trio had erred by missing the bus.
“It was an error,” Richardson said. “They took care of their mate in the same room. One of them turned the alarm off by mistake.
“They missed the bus but got to the airport at the same time of the bus. We are handling the discipline internally. They have to learn that these things can’t happen.”
The Warriors beat the Tigers 28-16 in Auckland on Friday night before the team made its way back to Australia the next day.
Galvin and Da Silva are just 19 while Laulilii is only 18. The three teenagers are considered long-term stars at the club and have impressed during their taste of first grade this year.
Laulilii was unable to finish the match against the Warriors after playing 49 minutes before failing a concussion test. Galvin was also unable to play out the final five minutes of the game.
Because of the concussion rules Laulilii won’t play against the Cowboys on Thursday night.
Da Silva started from the interchange bench and played 37 minutes at dummy half.
Galvin is the most experienced of the trio with 16 top grade games with the Tigers five-eighth in line for Dally M rookie of the year honours.
Galvin and Da Silva have been named to play on Thursday.
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