Key Bulldogs player signs with NRL rival as Galvin reshuffle continues

A key Bulldogs player has signed with a rival NRL club in the latest roster move as it struggles to integrate Lachlan Galvin into the team.

Canterbury hooker Reed Mahoney is set to become the latest Bulldogs player to leave the club as the reshuffle following Lachlan Galvin’s arrival continues.

On Friday it was confirmed out-of-contract halfback Toby Sexton would leave the Bulldogs at season’s end and join Super League side Catalans Dragons on a two-year deal to play in the south of France.

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The roster moves have continued in the wake of Canterbury’s 22-18 loss to the Broncos at Accor Stadium on Friday night.

Code Sports reports Mahoney has signed with the North Queensland Cowboys on a long-term deal expected to be three years long.

Mahoney, who previously played for the Parramatta Eels, will replace Cowboys No. 9 Reece Robson, who is joining the Roosters next season.

Reed Mahoney is leaving the Bulldogs. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

The 27-year-old is renowned as one of the NRL’s biggest pests who has had his fair share of sin bins and on-field disciplinary issues during his time with the Bulldogs.

Mahoney’s departure had been flagged since Galvin joined the Bulldogs from the Tigers midway through the season.

It’s expected Bailey Hayward will eventually slot into the No. 9 jersey as the Bulldogs’ long-term hooker.

Coach Cameron Ciraldo has tinkered with his spine to get Galvin in the team. Against the Broncos, Galvin played at five-eighth and Matt Burton moved to the centres as a result of Stephen Crichton and Jacob Kiraz being away on State of Origin duty.

Reed Mahoney (white headgear) is headed to the Cowboys. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Ciraldo said he was “filthy” after the Bulldogs let a 18-0 lead slip in the final half-hour of the game against the Broncos as Brisbane came storming home to claim a fourth consecutive win.

Galvin set up a try with his right boot but made two errors and didn’t gel well with his teammates on the left edge in what was his second start since leaving the Wests Tigers.

Canterbury’s attack is an easy focus given they were leading the league before Galvin arrived, with the next two months set to determine what their spine looks like heading into the finals.

Lachlan Galvin had a mixed night as questions remain over how best to use him. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“I don’t think our attack has reached its potential all year, so we’re searching for that, as most clubs are,” Ciraldo said.

“We’re searching for what works. We’ve had a lot of turnover with different back-rowers and things like that so we’re still searching.

“We’ve got nine or 10 weeks to go to figure that out, but you’ve got to learn your lessons quickly. We didn’t learn ours from last week and take those into tonight.”

While the halves conundrum will dominate the headlines for the rest of the season, Ciraldo doesn’t have to worry about being asked questions about Sexton’s future after the halfback signed a deal to play for Catalans.

Sexton joined the club midway through the 2023 season and has done a fine job in the halves, but his role became a major talking point once Galvin signed.

“He came and saw me last night (Thursday) and told me about it,” Ciraldo said.

“It’s really good for him and his family and I’m stoked for him because he’s worked really hard.

Toby Sexton will head to the Super League next season. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“He was playing for Tweed Heads a couple of years ago and came down to the Bulldogs to get an opportunity.

“He had to bide his time at the start and then got his opportunity, and he’s done really well.

“It’s a great opportunity for him over there, but he was really clear that he’s not thinking about that right now. He’s thinking about how we get better at the back end of the season, and that’s what we’re all thinking.”

Ciraldo has a week to decide who he should pick in the halves for their next game, with the coach disappointed in his side’s second-half performance after failing to learn lessons from last week’s loss to Penrith.

“I haven’t thought too far past that game. We’ve got to go back and review that,” he said.

“There was a lot to like about what we did in the first half, but there are some lessons there. I’m filthy that we didn’t learn our lessons from last week.

“We had to stand up and be better this week than what we were last week in those areas that we practised all week, but we weren’t.

“I thought we were trying to force it too much.

“I thought the Broncos were defending really well at the start of the second half and we earned some possession, but we had to keep asking questions and play the field position game.

“We didn’t, we tried to force it and it probably played into their hands.”

— With NewsWire

Originally published as Key Bulldogs player signs with NRL rival as Galvin reshuffle continues