Canterbury Bulldogs enter race for the signature of Lachlan Galvin

Despite weeks of denials, Canterbury have formally entered the race – alongside the Eels – to sign young half Lachlan Galvin. LATEST

Canterbury have formally entered the race for Lachlan Galvin despite weeks of denials with the Bulldogs and the Eels locked in a battle to recruit the Tigers young half.

The Bulldogs are expected to ramp up their talks in the next 24 hours as they attempt to convince the teenager to knock back the chance to play alongside Mitchell Moses and make his home at Belmore.

Galvin’s decision will put him on a collision course with the side he rejects with the very real possibility that he will immediately come up against the team he knocks back given the Bulldogs and Parramatta play each other in two weeks.

Canterbury have the bye next weekend, meaning his debut for the Bulldogs would be against the Eels in round 14 on the traditional King’s Birthday long weekend.

Lachlan Galvin’s time at the Wests Tigers is over. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

All that remains is for Galvin to make a decision as the Bulldogs and Eels ramp up their chase to secure the 19-year-old – it is understood his agent Isaac Moses received official permission to begin talks with rival clubs on Friday.

It is understood the Bulldogs and Parramatta will offer Galvin a staggered deal which would average about $750,000 a season.

The Dolphins have been the other club linked to Galvin but the race for his services appears down to two Sydney powerhouses despite constant denials of the Bulldogs interest from their head of football Phil Gould.

Gould has previously distanced the club from Galvin, although he has long professed his admiration for his ability and talent.

Canterbury GM of football Phil Gould has been open about his admiration of Galvin. Picture: NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

Earlier this year on his podcast, he said of Galvin: “I think in the future, whoever has Lachlan Galvin in their side will be winning premierships.

“I’m not even worried about putting wraps on the kid because he is probably the most exciting young playmaker I’ve seen coming through in a long time.”

His position and that of his club to stay out of the Galvin race appears to have altered after the Tigers and Galvin agreed to a potential immediate release provided his new club stumped up a transfer fee believed to be in the vicinity of $170,000.

The Bulldogs’ case is strengthened by the presence of Galvin’s mentor and former high school coach Luke Vella at the club, where he is an assistant coach to Cameron Ciraldo.

The Bulldogs are expected to use Galvin and Matt Burton in the halves which would place the future of Toby Sexton in extreme doubt.

Sexton is off-contract at the end of the season but this move would all but end his time at the club.

The Eels have a ready-made spot for Galvin long-term given Dylan Brown’s impending exit to join Newcastle. That move could be fast-tracked should Galvin opt to join Parramatta.

The Knights have made it clear they would accommodate Brown before June 30 should Parramatta pay a large chunk of his salary for the rest of the season.

Eels coach Jason Ryles has made no secret of his desire to sign Galvin, where he would play alongside Moses. It is understood the Eels half and captain has also been in Galvin’s ear in a bid to convince him to move to Parramatta.

The Tigers also face an uphill battle to keep young hooker Tallyn Da Silva after Da Silva’s agent indicated to the club that he would leave once his deal expires at the end of next season should they re-sign skipper Api Koroisau. Koroisau is off-contract at the end of 2026.

Originally published as Canterbury Bulldogs enter race for the signature of Lachlan Galvin