RLPA ready to intervene in Lachlan Galvin-Wests Tigers saga, Phil Gould raises concerns over young star’s mental health

The players’ union is ready to intervene in the escalating standoff between Lachlan Galvin, his teammates and the Wests Tigers. The development comes after Bulldogs boss Phil Gould raised concerns for the 19-year-old’s mental health.

The players’ union is ready to intervene in the escalating standoff between Lachlan Galvin, his teammates and the Wests Tigers after sending a reminder that clubs need to provide a psychologically safe environment for their players.

The Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) expressed their concerns only hours after Canterbury boss Phil Gould raised fears for Galvin’s mental health and welfare following his decision to shut down contract talks with the Tigers.

The players’ union held talks on Wednesday over the Galvin saga after senior players fronted coach Benji Marshall on Monday night and demanded that the 19-year-old be dropped for this week’s against Parramatta at CommBank Stadium.

Galvin’s decision prompted an ugly backlash on social media, although the most surprising responses came from some of his teammates. Of particular concern was a social media missive from teammate Sunia Turuva which appeared to take a shot at Galvin’s decision to leave the club at the end of next season.

It is understood Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has warned his players to be careful with their use of social media given the current environment while both he and Marshall are cognisant of taking care of Galvin given the firestorm that has enveloped one of the game’s most promising players.

The RLPA confirmed they were working with all parties involved in the Galvin saga as concern heightens over the teenager’s mental health.

The RLPA confirmed they were working with all parties involved in the Galvin saga. Picture: NRL Photos

“Rugby league is a passionate sport, but it’s a workplace for our players,” RLPA chief executive Clint Newton said.

“That means employment decisions are respected and that they are psychologically safe environments for all players.

“The RLPA will be working with all parties involved on this matter, including Lachlan’s employer before making any specific comments on it.”

Galvin and his father James released a statement on Tuesday reiterating that he was committed to his contract but confirming that he wanted to leave in the best interests of his development as a player.

It prompted social media responses from Tigers captain Jarome Luai and Turuva which stoked the drama amid reports the playing group had turned on the young half.

There’s since been a shift within the playing group, with members of the team now recognising the backlash has gone too far and they have a responsibility to protect the teenager from a potentially serious situation.

Gould addressed the Galvin saga on his weekly podcast on Wednesday, saying the situation at the Tigers had become untenable given the response of his teammates.

Gould has been an unabashed fan of Galvin and as a result, his club has been linked with a move for the teenager when he is able to talk to rival clubs on November 1.

On Six Tackles with Gus, Gould urged the Tigers to keep an eye on their young star’s mental health.

Phil Gould says the Lachlan Galvin-Wests Tigers relationship is untenable.

“As a club, the first thing I’d be worried about was his welfare,” Gould said.

“The first thing I would worry about is how he’s feeling about all this. Now, even though we’re at loggerheads, and even though he said he doesn’t believe in the direction of the club, he doesn’t want to play for the club, you’ve still got a responsibility to him and his welfare.

“And don’t underestimate how big this could be for a 19 year old boy to suddenly have his teammates turned on him in this manner. He might have anticipated that maybe they were going to drop me, but to have the teammates be behind that decision, that’s big.

“So my first concern would be for his welfare right at the moment, in how he’s now dealing with the fallout of this.

“I doubt in his wildest imagination he would have anticipated this. Even his management and his parents, who obviously endorse this plan of action, I don’t think they would have expected this sort of fallout straight away.

“If it was a strategy being used to get him out of his contract in the short term so he can go somewhere next year, well then to that extent it’s probably backfired to where it is at the moment now.

“The end result might be that he gets a release from the Tigers and he can go and play somewhere else next year for big money. That will have come at a cost.

“That will have come at a significant cost to Lachlan, which is something he’s going to have to work through and, and hopefully play his way out of going into the future.”

Gould also said he found it hard to see how the current situation could not continue

“It can’t go on,” he said.

“It’s not going to last. He’s prepared to play out his contract for the next 18 months. We

“all know that that’s going to be untenable. He’s now at loggerheads with the playing group.

“I don’t know for a young player how that’s tenable at all.”

Originally published as RLPA ready to intervene in Lachlan Galvin-Wests Tigers saga, Phil Gould raises concerns over young star’s mental health