Wests Tigers rookie Lachlan Galvin makes his NRL debut in similar circumstances to Luke Brooks

When Lachlan Galvin takes the field for the Wests Tigers this weekend, he’ll be just one day younger than one of the club’s former brightest stars.

Wests Tigers head coach Benji Marshall. Picture: Getty Images

Benji Marshall has bristled at suggestions he does not work hard enough to be an NRL coach ahead of his first official match in charge.

Reports surfaced this week taking umbrage with Marshall’s different approach to coaching. Marshall made no apologies for prioritising his family time but took major offence to any rhetoric surrounding his commitment to the role and was “disappointed” it had occurred just days out from his first match.

“I don’t want to justify the way I do things,” Marshall said. “What I don’t like is when things are told that are not true.

“Ask anyone in the building, I’m in here at 5:45am training with the staff before the players get in. They see us doing the hard yards before they come. You don’t play 347 game if you have a poor work ethic.

Benji Marshall has fired back at critics. Picture: Tim Hunter

“Coaching wise, I know I have a lot to learn. I know I have to work hard. I do my best. It’s annoying because it isn’t true [about work ethic].

“What’s a 24/7 coach? Who says I don’t (live and breathe coaching). I come into work early before the players, work as hard as we can to until we get what we need done, and then we go home.

“Because I prioritise my family between 5 and 8pm every night to find that work-life balance, it doesn’t mean I don’t care about my job or working hard.

“I don’t get it …. The bottom line is it’s not true.”

Benji Marshall freshened up the Tigers after their trials. Picture: Tim Hunter

After a week one bye, Marshall will coach the Tigers for the first time against the Raiders on Saturday. Despite a decorated playing career, it will be the first time he has been a head coach at any level.

“I’m actually a little bit nervous now,” Marshall said. “It’s just a lot of unknowns. It’s our first real competition game. I know we played two trials, but it’s hard trying to prepare with the bye in round one.

“You’ve got to flog the players longer, and then freshen them up later. In our trials, our boys were very tired. We had to, we had to prepare for round one. I’m looking forward to seeing them fresh.”

One of Marshall’s first big selection calls was handing a debut to rising star Lachlan Galvin. Galvin will be one of the Tigers’ brightest prospects to debut since Luke Brooks. Brooks was ironically just one day older than Galvin when he played his first game.

Marshall said he became teary when Galvin and fellow rookie Solomona Faataape were handed their jersey’s at captain’s run on Friday morning.

Galvin will make his debut against the Raiders. Picture: Tim Hunter

“One thing I made clear with the squad at the start of pre-season was it doesn’t matter who you are or how old you are, if you earn the opportunity, you’ll get it,” Marshall said. “Lachie is one of those guys who just plays footy, he plays what he sees, he’s not overawed by situations. There’s no fear in what he does.

“He trains hard, he won every test in the pre-season, fitness wise, and as an 18-year-old kid, you want to see how they go defensively, and in the wrestle room he was outstanding as well.

“We’re looking forward to seeing him play. He’s a big kid, and he’s also a really good kid, that’s what we love about him the most.”