‘I don’t think it’s going to happen to me’: Lachlan Galvin vows to be even better in 2025 as

Plenty of young stars have fallen victim to the sophomore slump, but Lachlan Galvin has declared that won’t be an issue for him this season.

Lachlan Galvin produced a rookie season that has all Wests Tigers fans excited for 2025, and the young five-eighth has declared his strong work ethic and new combination with Jarome Luai means he won’t fall victim to the dreaded sophomore slump.

The 19-year-old was the Tigers and RLPA Rookie of the Year but missed out on the NRL award due to a suspension for a hip-drop tackle, with Galvin excelling in his first year against grown men in a team that claimed its third wooden spoon in a row.

Galvin had 17 try assists and broke 51 tackles as he mixed creativity with a strong running game, and he’s already shown in the pre-season that he wants to take his game to new heights with a club record time in the gruelling Bronco fitness drill.

Plenty of young players have starred in their rookie year but struggled to back it up the following season, but Galvin is confident that won’t be the case for him in 2025.

Lachlan Galvin is confident he will improve on his breakout 2024 season. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“I haven’t really listened to it (second year slump chat) because I don’t think it’s going to happen to me,” he said.

“I just think I needed to come back and work hard from the outset, and I think I’ve done that.

“Hard work pays off in the season, so I’m working my hardest. I don’t want to slacken off.

“I think the biggest thing for me is to enjoy my footy. Once I do that, I’m playing my best footy.”

The halves merry-go-round at the club last year wouldn’t have made life easy for the young man, but things will be much smoother this time around with Luai locked in to lead the team around the park.

That will take plenty of pressure off Galvin, who is keen to start playing with the club’s new co-captain who has impressed everyone with his attitude in the pre-season.

Luai is addicted to winning and keen to prove he can lead an NRL side without great mate Nathan Cleary by his side, and the challenge will be how well he and Galvin combine in a side boasting plenty of new faces.

Jarome Luai will help take Galvin’s game to new heights.

“I think (developing that bond) is going to be the most important thing,” Galvin said.

“That starts by us chatting to each other all the time and having a laugh. He’s done that so well for me because I’m only a young kid and he’s a superstar.

“We’ve already got a pretty good bond because we’re laughing and joking all the time.

“He’s been massive, not just on the field but off the field as well with all the energy that he’s brought and how funny he’s been.

“He’s such a down-to-earth bloke and you can have mad chats with him because he’s able to take the piss out of himself and others. I can’t wait to start playing with him in a few weeks.”

Galvin looked relaxed at the club’s main media session earlier this month when he wasn’t bombarded with endless questions about his playing future.

His contract remains a big talking point, and the teenager says he’s developed ways to ignore that external noise after a harsh introduction to it all in 2024.

“I’ve learnt to deal with the day in, day out stuff of being an NRL player,” he explained.

“You’ve always got to be on and there’s always something happening, so you’ve got to work hard and keep your head down.

“I try to stay out of all that other stuff. The only thing you can do is play good footy and not worry about too much else.”

Originally published as ‘I don’t think it’s going to happen to me’: Lachlan Galvin vows to be even better in 2025 as