‘Don’t need him’: In-form Tigers’ unexpected halves headache amid shock release claim

The emergence of Lachie Galvin has created a halves headache for the Tigers as a details of a shock release request emerge.

Lachlan Galvin and Jarome Luai

The emergence of Lachie Galvin has created an intriguing situation for the Wests Tigers amid claims the teenage star’s manager sought a release from the club over the blockbuster signing of incoming $1 million man Jarome Luai.

Galvin stole the show in just his third NRL game against the Eels at CommBank Stadium on Easter Monday, setting up the Tigers’ final try to put them ahead late in the game.

Panthers champion Luai will join the Tigers from 2025 on a monster five-year deal believed to be worth $6 million. The 27-year-old’s signing was a huge coup for the struggling club and Galvin’s emergence suddenly has the club’s halves depth looking much stronger than many expected.

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The Tigers also recruited young guns Jayden Sullivan and Latu Fainu while veteran halfback Aidan Sezer has impressed on a one-year deal and Adam Doueihi is working his way back from another ACL injury.

The NRL 360 panel on Tuesday night discussed the welcome headache the Tigers will have next season when Luai arrives.

“The interesting thing about this is that next year, the Tigers have a $1 million five-eighth arriving in town. I don’t think they need him with the way this kid is going,” co-host Paul Kent said.

“It’s a good point because Jarome has come in as the sole ball-player, and what Sezer and Galvin have put together shows it is an unnecessary requirement,” NRL great Cooper Cronk replied.

Both Luai and Galvin are currently playing as five-eighths but the Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield believes the teenager could take the No.7 jersey from next season.

“I would think this far out, you’d be looking at Galvin at halfback next year with Luai at five-eighth. There’s no other way of looking at it,” Rothfield said,

“It’s really, really encouraging. I didn’t think they’d do a lot this year. I tipped them to win the spoon and I’m happy to be proven wrong.”

An intriguing twist to the Tigers’ halves situation came amid a report on Tuesday morning that Galvin almost never played for the club.

According to Channel 9’s Danny Weidler, Galvin’s agent was keen to move his client elsewhere after the Tigers signed Panthers star Luai.

Behind pricey new recruit Sullivan on the depth chart, Galvin wasn’t even the first choice five-eighth at the start of 2024, but after impressing during the pre-season, he has started and been tremendous for the Tigers in all three of their games.

Lachlan Galvin and Jarome Luai

“There was a lot of niggling by his agent in the background to try and get him out of the Tigers,” Weidler told the Big Sports Breakfast radio show on Tuesday morning.

“I think there was as many as three release requests by his management throughout the off-season.

Asked if that was due to the Luai signing, Weidler responded: “Correct”.

“Even on the first day that Shane Richardson moved into his new job with the Tigers, the first thing that happened was Lachie Galvin’s agent was on the phone to him asking if they can move out,” Weidler said.

“He’s obviously going to have up-and-downs but he’s shown a cool head, strength and backs himself.

“It’s good to see the Tigers stuck to their guns.”

Originally published as ‘Don’t need him’: In-form Tigers’ unexpected halves headache amid shock release claim