Market Watch: Canterbury land another Galvin from Tigers as Dragons bolster halves stocks with rising Bulldog

Another Galvin has defected from the flailing Wests Tigers to join rivals Canterbury, as St George Illawarra bolster their halves stocks with rising halfback Joseph O’Neill.

Another Galvin has defected from the besieged Wests Tigers.

Canterbury have quietly lured Tom Galvin, the younger brother of former teenage Tigers prodigy Lachlan Galvin, from Concord to Belmore on a train-and-trial deal.

It’s understood the playmaker is on a SG Ball (under-19s) contract and joined the Bulldogs almost four weeks ago.

Tom’s arrival at Belmore went completely under the radar, in deep contrast to Galvin’s much publicised mid-season switch to the Bulldogs – which dominated headlines at the time.

Like Galvin, the 19-year-old Tom is also a lanky playmaker who can slot in at five-eighth in the halves or at lock.

He was part of the Tigers’ pathways set-up, playing for the Macarthur Wests Tigers in the Laurie Daley (under-18s) Cup this season.

Tom Galvin has followed brother Lachlan to the Bulldogs.

The train-and-trial deal is a chance for the teen to impress coaches over the summer and earn a spot in Canterbury’s SG Ball team.

It’s understood Canterbury’s development list is already finalised for season 2026.

The club added former Brisbane forward Fletcher Baker and Manly hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong to their development list for 2026, with the latter set to be upgraded to the top 30 in 2027.

It comes as the Bulldogs released rising halfback Joseph O’Neill from his deal at the club to join St George Illawarra.

A highly rated halves prospect at Belmore, O’Neill captained Canterbury to the Jersey Flegg (under-21s) title in season 2023, going on to play 42 NSW Cup games across the past three seasons.

He also played in both NRL trial games in the pre-season challenge earlier this year.

But the Berala Bears local junior has fallen down pecking order on the back of Galvin’s arrival, the emergence of prodigious No.7 Mitchell Woods and the addition of former Dolphins playmaker Sean O’Sullivan to coach Cameron Ciraldo’s halves stocks in 2026.

Joseph O'Neill was the Bulldogs captain and player of the match in the Jersey Flegg grand final. Picture: Steve Montgomery

The Dragons confirmed the signature of O’Neill, who has already started training with the Red V, on a one-year development deal.

St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan said O’Neill addition would provide some much needed depth in the halves after the club released Lachlan Ilias to the Gold Coast, and playmaker Jonah Glover joined South Sydney on a two-year deal from 2026.

“Joseph is a talented, young player and we’re excited to be able to bring him to the Dragons,“ Flanagan said.

“He’s had plenty of success coming through the grades at the Bulldogs and is eager to continue to prove himself.

“He’s hardworking and he’s passionate about his footy. He provides us with some more valuable depth in the halves. It’ll be good for him to meet the rest of the squad and really hit the ground running this pre-season.”

Flanagan is expected to open the Dragons’ campaign in Las Vegas against the Bulldogs with new recruit Daniel Atkinson and Kyle Flanagan as the starting halves combination.

But an injury in the halves will give O’Neill, an outright halfback with a strong kicking game, a shot at an NRL debut in 2026.

Originally published as Market Watch: Canterbury land another Galvin from Tigers as Dragons bolster halves stocks with rising Bulldog