First to arrive, last to leave: How Lachlan Galvin’s day in the spotlight unfolded at Concord

Every eye in the NRL world was on Lachlan Galvin at Concord - but he wasn’t trying to hide. If anything, he ran towards the spotlight, still looking every inch the teenager living a childhood dream, writes BRENT READ.

Lachlan Galvin was the first to run out and the last to leave the training track at Concord on Thursday.

Only days after being dropped to NSW Cup by coach Benji Marshall, having done so with the backing of the senior players, Galvin wasn’t interested in finding somewhere to hide.

If anything, he ran towards the spotlight, right down to the fluorescent pink boots that accompanied him onto Concord Oval on Thursday morning.

Galvin jogged out for the session spinning a ball on the index finger of his right hand. He looked like he didn’t have a care in the world.

A penny for his thoughts though given the firestorm that has enveloped him in recent days, having turned down the chance to talk terms on a $6 million deal and instead told the Tigers that he wants to leave when his contract expires at the end of next season.

Against that backdrop, with tumult swirling around him, Galvin lined up with the NSW Cup team and did his best to help the NRL side prepare for the Easter Monday game against Parramatta.

Lachlan Galvin at Tigers training. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Galvin’s day had started with meetings involving chief executive Shane Richardson, coach Benji Marshall and the Tigers’ welfare manager Tim Grant.

Marshall revealed that he spoke to Galvin about the need to go back to reserve grade and play his best footy. Earn some trust, he said. Rebuild the respect and put yourself in the picture for first grade selection next week.

He was still the future of the club, Marshall told him, even if he didn’t believe it himself. Marshall insisted that he felt sorry for Galvin – having endured the same searing spotlight as a teenage prodigy and he could sympathise with the pressure Galvin is under right now.

As such, he insisted Galvin’s welfare was at the forefront of his mind as he dismissed claims some of his players had bullied the teenager with some of their posts on social media.

Richardson offered Galvin the opportunity to sit out this weekend altogether if he wasn’t in the right frame of mind to play rugby league.

It wasn’t just feeling the sharp end of the axe that threatened to take Galvin’s mind off footy. His last social media post was in February but it had more than 750 comments, the vast majority over the past few days and many of them unflattering about a decision that has stunned the Tigers and rocked the code.

No one would have blamed him for accepting the offer to take a rest given recent events. Instead, Galvin insisted he wanted to play and he was back in his happy place on Thursday as he trained alongside some of his closest mates – and some of the players who had used social media to vent against his decision.

Benji Marshall faced the media. Picture: Jeremy Piper

He was followed by Tigers co-captains, Jerome Luai and Apisai Koroisau. Picture: Jeremy Piper

A media scrum kept an eye on his every move. It has been a tumultuous week at Concord and Richardson and chair Barry O’Farrell – the former NSW premier – were among those to pop their head into training.

After warming up alongside the first grade squad – there was little to no interaction between Galvin and Marshall – the group split into two and Galvin joined the reserves under the watchful eye of assistant coach Brett Hodgson.

Marshall went the other way and took charge of the NRL side. The two groups then switched ends of the ground and Galvin took part in tackling drills before they joined forces for an opposed session.

Galvin didn’t look like a footballer in the eye of a storm. Ask those close to Galvin and they will tell you that of all his qualities, his work ethic is one of his strengths. Galvin wants to extract everything he can from his talents and his football career. Training is his temple.

It’s part of the reason he has decided to turn his back on the Tigers. He doesn’t believe the club or the coach can help him develop into the player he wants to be.

Marshall is that coach and he was asked whether the reason Galvin was leaving was his coaching.

“I think so,” Marshall replied.

“I think it’s obvious with his statement that it’s about development and at the end of the – I said this to the players – you can’t be angry or be against someone for choosing something they think is best for their future. I’ve said it to everyone I’ve ever coached us – when it comes to negotiations, you have to do what’s best for you. That’s Lachie.”

As training drew to a close, Galvin hung around and did some extras with good mate Tallyn da Silva. He wasn’t finished there. As many of his teammates made their way off the field, either disappearing up the tunnel or to sign autographs and take selfies with the fans in attendance, Galvin worked on his kicking game and put up bombs for his wingers.

He finished the session as he started – spinning a ball on his finger with a smile on his face. He looked every inch the teenager living a childhood dream.

Originally published as First to arrive, last to leave: How Lachlan Galvin’s day in the spotlight unfolded at Concord