Teenager Lachie Galvin is in the frame to make his debut for the Wests Tigers in their first game of the season, two years after being cut by Parramatta for being too small
Galvin is only 18, but has quickly impressed coach Benji Marshall to the point the first-year coach is not afraid to go all in with the five-eighth for the club’s season opener, an away trip to Canberra in round two following a round one bye.
Tigers fans are celebrating the arrival of Jarome Luai for 2025, but the more pressing concern is the four-into-two halves conundrum with the experienced Aidan Sezer, energetic Bud Sullivan, youngster Latu Fainu – who is unavailable for the Raiders game due to suspension – and Galvin.
Galvin had a growth spurt after being cut by the Eels and now stands at 193cm and weighs 91kg. He was named player of the tournament at the Australian schoolboys tournament last year, then captained the Australia Schoolboys side to victory against Papua New Guinea.
Australian Schoolboys coach Tim White also coached former Tigers Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks at Holy Cross College, but said Galvin’s size gave him a slight edge over the established pair.
“He’s a rarity in that he is tall, deceptively strong, quick, and is just an old-school footy player,” White said. “You can’t coach what Lachie’s got.
The 18-year-old Lachie Galvin stands at 193cm and weighs 91kg.Credit: Wests Tigers
“It would be a steep learning curve for him if he was to play in round one – his last game was with the schoolboys in Papua New Guinea – but he wouldn’t embarrass himself. In fact, he’d be the dominant player in the halves with what they’ve got there at the moment.
“I also coached Mitch and ‘Brooksy’ here at Holy Cross. They were standouts. If you were to group them, the three of them are very similar, and if anything, Lachie has that edge because he’s such a big thing.”
Galvin hails from Campbelltown, was picked up by the Eels in his teens, and played a couple of seasons in Harold Matthews before he was cut loose.
“They told me they didn’t have a spot for me, and I was too small,” Galvin said. “I wasn’t upset. I only had a growth spurt two years ago. I went back to Wests and trialled for the Harold Matts, and we won it the following year [in 2022].”
Galvin as a schoolboy playing for NSW City against Country.Credit: NRL Photos
As for being ready for the NRL in round one, Galvin said: “I’d never say no. Whatever Benji wants me to do, I will do. I’m a running half, I like to play a bit off the cuff. Benji just tod me to play what I see, and be confident with what I do – he told me if I’m going to do something, do it at 100 per cent.”
Galvin was an Eels supporter growing up, and sheepishly admits to being too young to watch Marshall when he was in his element. He was still impressed the coach could put on a step at training, and said, “He’s still at his best, even in his 40s”.
Marshall – who, for the record, is 38 – told this masthead about Galvin: “I’m not afraid to throw any of them in. That’s why I’m the coach. The trials and pre-season will dictate which way we go.
“Just because you’re 18 means nothing. If you’re good enough you’re old enough. He’s a really good kid.”
Sullivan admits to occasionally being a “fan boy” when it comes to Marshall.
“‘Bud’ [Sullivan] might be getting carried away, and the times I’m yelling and screaming at him, I don’t think he sees me as a fan boy then,” Marshall said.
“Because I played a certain way doesn’t mean I’m going to coach these guys to play a certain way. That would be unfair.”
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