Wests Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell calls for fans to resist laying into Lachlan Galvin ahead of reunion
A hostile Tigers crowd is expected to greet the returning Lachlan Galvin with an onslaught of boos this weekend. However, club chairman Barry O’Farrell has urged emotional fans to lay off the young star.
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Wests Tigers chairman and former NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has called on his club’s emotional fans to lay off Lachlan Galvin, declaring condemnation of the Canterbury defector would be “crazy”.
“I don’t think people should bag any player, quite frankly,” O’Farrell said.
But Wests Tigers fans contacted by this masthead let their feelings be known.
“Galvin will be booed every time he touches the ball,” one said. “And that will start in the first minute and only end in the 80th minute.”
Galvin will make his first appearance for the Bulldogs against former club Wests Tigers in what could be a powder keg match at CommBank Stadium this Sunday afternoon.
Wests Tigers fans have promised to jeer and taunt Galvin, who left Concord for Belmore in late May, with staunch Bulldogs supporters vowing to protect their young star from crowd criticism.
Galvin has settled into his new playmaking role at Belmore and threatens to tear Wests Tigers apart on Sunday afternoon – a possibility that would further anger the Tigers faithful.
While Wests Tigers fans remain filthy at Galvin’s shock mid-season exit, O’Farrell urged his club’s supporters to resist ridiculing the 20-year star who is ready to drive Canterbury deep into the NRL finals.
“The idea that you take a set against any player is crazy. I want Lachie Galvin to thrive as I want every Wests Tigers player to thrive,” O’Farrell said.
“The one thing that unites everybody is that we love rugby league and we want everybody who is playing rugby league to be a champion, and that includes Lachie Galvin, and includes everyone on my team.
“I don’t quite understand people having anti-passions in rugby league.
“Regrettably, and I am one who loved it, the days when players played for one club throughout their career are quickly fading.
“At the end of the day, we all want a good match and, as loyal club members, we want our team to win, but that doesn’t always happen as we know.
“One thing that unites us all, even me, who has never been very favourable towards Manly, is the fact that without your opponent there isn’t a game and then there’s nothing to do on weekends and life gets boring.
“We should focus on supporting Wests Tigers and cheering the return of Jahream Bula.”
A big and heaving crowd is expected at the all-Sydney match with the Bulldogs having shielded Galvin from media commitments this week.
Earlier this week, Canterbury chief executive Aaron Warburton, when quizzed about Galvin, said: “Of course there’ll be emotion from Tigers fans – that’s rugby league.
“But Lachlan’s focus is entirely on helping the Bulldogs win, not on crowd reactions. He’s approached every challenge since joining us with professionalism and determination. Sunday will be no different.”
Canterbury will start hot $1.30 favourites with Wests Tigers $3.50 outsiders, according to TAB.
O’Farrell sent a message to punters: “We’re not a bad bet this weekend.”
Galvin is paying $19 to be first try scorer and $3.50 to score a try – a feat that would further enrage Wests Tigers fans.
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