Wests Tigers to resist dropping Lachlan Galvin after star rejects $6m deal, commits to quitting the club

Benji Marshall is committed to the biggest call of his coaching career when Latu Fainu returns from injury as the true value of Lachlan Galvin’s rejected Wests Tigers contract can be revealed.

Benji Marshall is confronted with the biggest challenge of his short career.

The Wests Tigers have vowed to resist any pressure to shift Lachlan Galvin in the wake of his bombshell decision to quit the club at the end of the 2026 NRL season.

It comes as this masthead can reveal the Tigers had prepared a $6 million package to keep Galvin at the club into the next decade.

Galvin shocked Tigers fans on Monday when the club revealed that their star young five-eighth would not entertain staying beyond his current deal.

The Tigers said they were set to table the 19-year-old “the largest contract offer for a junior in the history of the club”, only to be told by Galvin’s agent, Isaac Moses, that they weren’t interested in engaging in talks to stay.

That offer was an upgrade to the remaining 18 months of his current contract, which is currently worth $350,000 a season, as well as a five-year extension, which would have been a bumper $6 million payday for the 19-year-old.

Galvin was widely expected to reject an immediate attempt from the Tigers to keep him off the open market by extending his deal, with the teenager keen to head to free agency on November 1.

But his decision to dismiss the Tigers outright floored Tigers officials, who have declared they will not offer Galvin an early release from his contract.

Moses met with Tigers CEO Shane Richardson last Thursday, and reiterated the stance in a phone conversation on Monday.

Galvin will, on Tuesday, be named at five-eighth for the Tigers’ Easter Monday clash with the Eels, one of the sides that has already been linked with his signature.

Parramatta, Canterbury, Manly and Sydney Roosters have already been spoken about as potential suitors, even though they can’t table an offer until November 1.

That will ensure his future will be background noise for the Tigers for the rest of this season – and into 2026 – as they look to secure their first final appearance since 2011.

There were calls on Monday for the Tigers to partner Jarome Luai with teenager Latu Fainu in the halves, when he returns from injury.

Former Tigers star Josh Reynolds predicted Marshall will dump Galvin from first grade in favour of Fainu.

“Just knowing Benji, honestly, I don’t think Benji will take this too well,” Reynolds told the Big Sports Breakfast radio show.

“Lachlan has put himself before the club at the moment so Benji has a right to do the same thing.

“And Fainu, he’s a great player, that’s the thing. It’s not like you’re taking a total step back.

“If anything, Fainu, if given the same opportunity as Lachie Galvin, could be at the same spot, or even further.

“I really rate him.”

However, it’s understood coach Benji Marshall’s focus is on continuing the seventh-placed Tigers’ strong start to the season by winning games.

And that means playing Galvin in his preferred five-eighth role.

“We would like to announce that Lachlan Galvin will not be with the club beyond the 2026 season,” the Tigers said in a statement on Monday.

“Despite the club having the largest contract offer for a junior in the history of the club on the table, Lachlan and his management have decided his future lies elsewhere and were not willing to review the offer.

Benji Marshall will resist dropping Lachlan Galvin. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“It should be noted that the club has NO intention of releasing Lachlan from his contract, and he has not requested this.

“Obviously, there will be a lot of speculation around this release, but we will make no further comment.”

The revelation will ignite a frenzy for his signature from eager NRL rivals.

Bulldogs general manager of football Phil Gould is an unabashed fan of Galvin, and has used his platform as a Channel 9 commentator to describe him as the best teenage talent he’s ever seen.

Parramatta is another option. Galvin is a boyhood Eels fan and played in their junior system. The club has a good relationship with the Galvin family and they have salary cap space available to replace Newcastle-bound Dylan Brown.

Lachlan Galvin with fans after beating the Knights on Sunday. Picture: NRL

Latu Fainu is highly rated by his peers. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Although Roosters chairman Nick Politis refuses to deal with Galvin’s agent, Moses, the 19-year-old is a generational talent around whom a club can build a team.

The Sea Eagles are looking for a replacement for Daly Cherry-Evans, who announced last month he would leave Manly at season’s end. Although they are believed to be close to signing halfback Jamal Fogarty on a two-year deal, and have Luke Brooks under contract, Manly could have the salary cap flexibility to sign Galvin.

Originally published as Wests Tigers to resist dropping Lachlan Galvin after star rejects $6m deal, commits to quitting the club