Lachlan Galvin’s management sends Wests Tigers legal letter over alleged bullying

The Lachlan Galvin saga at Wests Tigers has taken another dramatic turn after his management sent the club a legal letter in a move that could see both parties headed for the courts.

Lachlan Galvin’s stoush with the Wests Tigers has taken a dramatic twist after it emerged that his management had sent the club a legal letter alleging that their client had been bullied and not provided with a safe working environment.

This masthead can reveal that Galvin’s management formally raised their concerns with the Tigers late last week amid reports over the treatment of the prodigious teenager.

Galvin was dropped to the NSW Cup on Tuesday after informing the club he planned to leave at the end of 2026 in the best interests of his football development.

His decision prompted a strong response from the club’s supporters and some of his teammates - Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva both posted social media missives that were interpreted as criticism of the 19-year-old.

Coach Benji Marshall and Luai denied Galvin had been the victim of bullying during a press conference last Thursday, where they fronted the media to discuss the club’s standoff with one of their star players.

Lachlan Galvin’s management has sent the club a legal letter. Picture: NRL Photos

However, it is understood that earlier that day, Galvin’s management formally raised their concerns via lawyers with chief executive Shane Richardson over their client’s treatment.

The spectre of legal action only served to highlight the deteriorating relationship between the Tigers and Galvin, who is regarded as one of the best young players in the game.

The Tigers were so enamoured by him that they were ready to table a five-year contract extension worth up to $6 million - the deal would have included upgrades for this season and next.

However, Galvin’s management told the Tigers not to table the offer because he had already made his mind up that he was leaving at the end of 2026.

A handful of rival clubs are believed to be watching closely as they weigh up making moves for Galvin should he hit the open market.

Parramatta, the Bulldogs and the Dolphins are among the clubs in the market for halves - the Eels will lose Dylan Brown at the end of the season, the ‘Dogs are yet to re-sign Toby Sexton, and the Dolphins have been linked with Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans.

Galvin first needs to resolve his issues with the Tigers given the way the relationship has rapidly deteriorated over the past week. Legal action would be a last resort for both sides but the decision to send the Tigers a legal letter suggests that the parties could be headed for the courts unless they can find a way to resolve their spat.

It is believed the legal concerns centre around claims that the Tigers failed to provide a safe working environment for Galvin. The standard NRL contract doesn’t allude to bullying but it is made clear that the agreement is governed by laws of NSW and the parties are subject to the jurisdiction of the court.

Galvin trained with his NRL teammates this week but will miss the club’s Easter Monday game against Parramatta and is expected to instead feature for Western Suburbs in the NSW Cup.

There has been talk that Galvin could spend the year in NSW Cup, but the standard playing contract adds that subject to fitness, playing form and mental attitude, the club must give them the opportunity to train and play to the level reasonably required of a professional rugby league player with the player’s level of skill and experience.

Originally published as Lachlan Galvin’s management sends Wests Tigers legal letter over alleged bullying