‘Highly unusual’: Wests Tigers boss Shane Richardson interrupts Galvin question
The Wests Tigers are on edge over the Lachlan Galvin saga, with their chief executive jumping into a tense press conference on Monday.
Wests Tigers boss Shane Richardson tried to shut down a Lachlan Galvin question during a tense post-match press conference after the club’s 38-22 loss to Parramatta on Monday.
The Tigers have been dealing with a public relations nightmare ever since Galvin announced his plans to leave the club after his contract expires in 2026.
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The saga took a dark turn late last week after social media posts from teammates Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva referencing Galvin were considered bullying, which the claim vehemently denied.
The five-eighth was dropped to reserve grade this week, turning out for Western Suburbs in a NSW Cup match on Monday before the Tigers trotted out for their first grade clash with the Eels.
Watch Shane Richardson’s interruption in the video player above
Following the defeat to Parramatta, the club’s third from its past four games, coach Benji Marshall and skipper Api Koroisau fronted the media.
After a number of questions about the team’s performance at CommBank Stadium, a reporter tried to ask Koroisau a perfectly legitimate question about the impact the Galvin drama is having on the club.
“Api, how important is it you block out this Lachie Galvin drama moving forward and I take it you...” the journalist said before Richardson stepped in.
Marshall and Koroisau both looked in Richardson’s direction and cracked a smile before the reporter said to the Tigers’ boss: “Richo it’s a legitimate question.
“I just want to know, it’s been a big story, Benji just said himself it’s been a tough week, how is it you don’t let it affect the boys this week going into next Sunday?”
To his credit, Koroisau answered the question, replying simply: “We get together, we’re here to play footy, we just have to focus on that.”
Another reporter then took the opportunity to follow up on the ongoing issues with another question to Marshall.
“Will the playing group allow Lachie back in this week, Benji?” they asked.
Marshall quickly shot back: “They never let him out.
“I saw them at training, training pretty well with him, (he) mixed in, so I don’t think there was a drama.”
Braith Anasta later commented on Richardson’s move on NRL 360.
“Well you don’t see that too often,” he said.
“Tigers CEO Shane Richardson jumping into the press conference telling Benji and Api not to comment on the Galvin situation.
“That’s highly unusual.”
The escalating feud between Galvin and the Tigers took another turn after reports of a legal move surfaced from the young playmaker’s camp.
In a story already featuring enough twists and turns to make Agatha Christie proud, Galvin has been under an intense glare ever since he turned down a massive $6 million contract extension from the Tigers almost a week ago.
As first reported by CODE Sports, Galvin’s management team sent a legal letter to the Tigers alleging he had been bullied and the club had failed to provide a safe working environment.
NRL prodigy Galvin, who went to the highly regarded Westfields Sports High School and represented the Australian Schoolboys before being cut loose by Parramatta, signed with the Tigers ahead of the 2024 season.
He made his senior debut in round two of that season and has made 27 appearances for the club, including all six matches to date this year.
But after he was dropped to the NSW Cup, Marshall said the move was “the best thing for the team this week”.
At another tense press conference last Thursday, Marshall strongly refuted any allegations of bullying towards the five-eighth.
“I don’t think he’s being bullied by the other players,” Marshall snapped.
“I think emotional responses to things happening might seem like it, but there’s been no sense of bullying at our club and we don’t stand for bullying.
“I talked to the team about it this morning. That’s not us. We’re not bullies. Our players are not bullies.
“They had emotional reactions to one of their teammates, but it’s not bullying. I can guarantee you that.”
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