By Michael Chammas and Danny Weidler
The Wests Tigers are poised to grant Lachlan Galvin permission to negotiate with rival clubs after a board meeting on Monday.
The Tigers will allow the 19-year-old playmaker to open talks with interested parties before he becomes a free agent on November 1, but with conditions.
Sources with knowledge of the situation talking on the condition of anonymity told the Herald one of those conditions will be reconsidering his legal case against the club following allegations of bullying against Galvin.
The other condition likely to be attached to formal permission to negotiate is that a transfer fee, which is still being determined, be paid to the Tigers.
The Wests Tigers board met on Monday and agreed to put the Galvin saga to bed, but chief executive Shane Richardson wants a positive outcome for the club.
Richardson declined to comment when contacted on Wednesday morning.
Lachlan Galvin could be on his way out of the club.Credit: NRL Imagery
There is a growing feeling at Tigers headquarters that Galvin could depart before June 30 if the conditions are met. The club is hopeful Galvin’s replacement, Latu Fainu, will be available to return from injury after the bye this weekend.
Galvin last month informed the club of his desire to depart at the end of his contract, with his manager Isaac Moses knocking back Richardson’s attempts to offer him a lucrative upgrade and extension offer worth close to $6 million.
Galvin is on the radar of the Parramatta Eels, while whispers about a move to the Bulldogs have grown louder in recent weeks, despite a public declaration by general manager Phil Gould that his club would not pursue his services.
“We are not involved in the Lachlan Galvin discussion and we won’t be involved in the Lachlan Galvin discussion,” Gould said. “We wish him all the best.”
The Bulldogs are yet to offer incumbent halfback Toby Sexton an extension and don’t appear in a hurry to lock down their No.7, who became a free agent last November.
Parramatta haven’t hidden their desire to lure Galvin, a childhood Eels supporter. Parramatta coach Jason Ryles sees Galvin as the ideal replacement for the Newcastle-bound Dylan Brown, who will join the Knights next year on a record $13 million deal over 10 years.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall was asked about Galvin’s future following his team’s loss to South Sydney at Campbelltown on Sunday night, but declined to share his thoughts on the matter.
Asked if he had a view on what the board should do, Marshall said: “I do, but it’s not one I’m going to share.”
“That’s up to [the board] whatever happens there, but I’m not going to comment on it to be honest.”
Marshall was then asked if he expected clarity to come from the meeting.
“I’m sure you’ll find out, like you usually do,” he said.
Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter.