Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Gladys Berejiklian’s unwitting role in Lachlan Galvin mess
Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian’s unwitting role in the Lachlan Galvin mess, Spencer Leniu sprays another journo, axed Bulldogs coach’s new gig and more in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The legal heavyweight in charge of Lachlan Galvin’s bullying complaint against the Wests Tigers just happens to be a Parramatta Eels tragic.
This isn’t to suggest prominent barrister Arthur Moses SC will legally manoeuvre to get the disgruntled Galvin off the Wests Tigers books to join his beloved Eels.
Of course not, although the esteemed lawyer would obviously love to see him there one day, alongside his namesake, champion halfback Mitchell Moses.
The barrister has followed the Eels his entire life, since growing up in Sydney’s west in a working-class family before becoming a highly-successful lawyer.
In an interview back in 2017, Moses was asked: “When were you happiest?” to which he replied: “When the Parramatta Eels were winning grand finals (39 years ago).”
The barrister was once pictured wearing an Eels beanie on a morning walk with his partner, former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian.
There is a good story, too, as part of their relationship in this Galvin case.
The Wests Tigers’ chairman is former NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, who Berejiklian once served under in the state Liberal government.
So we now have her partner heading up proceedings against her ex-boss.
Moses did not return phone our phone calls or text messages last week.
Instead, we heard back from Simon Berry who is a solicitor for Galvin.
“We have sought an urgent mediation between the parties to resolve the issues in a constructive manner,” Berry said.
Moses has a long history of being involved in some of the country’s biggest court cases, including rugby league disputes.
In 2008 he acted for the Canterbury Bulldogs against runaway star Sonny Bill Williams.
Ironically, he is currently acting for the Bulldogs in the club’s defence of bullying claims by ex-player Jackson Topine, who has launched a $4 million lawsuit against the club.
SAINT
You little beauty … 27 years after the heartbreak for tens of thousands of loyal North Sydney fans when their old club went broke, the Bears are baaaaack in big-time rugby league. Having a team based in Western Australia but playing six to eight games a year in Sydney will be huuuuge for their long-suffering supporters.
SINNER
AFL 360 host Gerard Whateley opened his show on Wednesday night by having a sly shot at NRL crowds after a weekend in which rugby league attracted 218,833 fans – the highest attendance figures for one round in 27 years. Yes, the AFL gets bigger crowds because Melbourne is such a bleak and miserable city and there is bugger all else to do on weekends but watch aerial ping pong. Perhaps Whateley should look at the TV ratings for both sports where the NRL is a mile in front as the most watched sporting code in the country.
SHOOSH
What is holding back Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo in NRL player-management reform? For too long they’ve been threatening to weed out the small percentage of dodgy agents who continue to damage the integrity and image of the code. We’re over all the talk – how about actually doing something about it.
SHOOSH
Which two player agents, who work in the same management stable, have fallen out over the manner in which negotiations were carried out in a recent signing.
SPOTTED
One Parramatta Eels tragic is already prepared for Lachlan Galvin’s arrival at the club, whether it be this year, 2026 or the following season. He was at CommBank Stadium last week with Galvin’s name on the back of his blue and gold number six jersey.
SPOTTED
The old minister for the Sydney Olympics, Michael Knight, and Australian Olympic Commission chief executive Mark Abib, enjoying the hospitality of Venues NSW in David Gallop’s suite for the Dragons v Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Friday.
SPOTTED
Wouldn’t it be nice to play golf like Masters champion Rory McIlroy. Golf Digest has broken down his earnings this year from $20.8 million (Aussie dollars) prizemoney. This works out at $48,000 per hole or $12,593 for each shot.
THE BIG BREKKY
Catch you this morning on Sky Sports Radio’s Weekend Big Sports Breakfast with hosts Ray Thomas and Dean Ritchie to discuss all the major issues from a huge weekend of NRL.
SPENCER LENIU BLOWS UP AT ANOTHER JOURNO
Roosters forward Spencer Leniu has struck again … just a couple of weeks after his showdown with Johnathan Thurston at Suncorp.
This time Leniu had words with colleague Brent Read, who was working on the sideline for Triple M on Anzac Day at Allianz Stadium.
“I had the headsets on and didn’t hear what he actually said,” Read said.
The veteran journo says he won’t be lodging a complaint.
GALVIN WON’T RUIN OUR FRIENDSHIP
Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach and Benny Elias have declared their friendship will never be broken despite the Lachlan Galvin issue that has divided the two old Balmain teammates.
Roach has labelled departing star Lachlan Galvin a “disrespectful disgrace” for insulting coach Benji Marshall while Elias is firmly in the camp of twice-deregistered agent Isaac Moses, who manages the young playmaker.
Roach says: “What’s wrong with two mates having different views. We’ve spoken about it. Nothing will ever come between us.
“You know Benny rings me every week and he’ll say, ‘How you going, how’s the family, do you need anything?’
“Then he says, ‘You looked after me when we were playing together on the footy field for over a decade and I’ll look after you now.’
“I’ve told him I don’t need anything apart from his friendship.
“That we disagree on what’s played out with Lachlan Galvin doesn’t matter one bit.
“We’re mates for life.”
POOR KID LEFT TO FEND FOR HIMSELF
It’s now been two weeks since Lachlan Galvin officially told the Tigers of his intention to leave - and 10 months since I first revealed in this column that the teenager originally wanted out from the Wests Tigers.
We’ve heard from Benji Marshall, Jarome Luai, Api Koroisau, Shane Richardson, Galvin’s solicitor, Galvin and his father ina prepared statement, yet still no word from the key player in this circus – twice deregistered player agent Isaac Moses.
After all, he is known for getting his point across in the media via private briefings in daily phone calls to a handful of journalists and his ex-players who are employed in the media.
They then relay his thoughts in a positive manner.
The readers, listeners and viewers are not fools. They want answers.
Not once has this man been properly questioned or challenged about his actions.
It’s quite sad that the poor kid has been left to fend for himself.
HAMDAN’S JOINS GUTSY CLUB
We have witnessed many extraordinary stories of courage over the years in Australian sport.
Where do you start?
John Sattler playing the 1970 grand final with a broken jaw is part of rugby league folklore.
Or Rick McCosker, the Aussie opener who batted in the second-innings of the Centenary Test against England, walking to the crease in the second innings with his head bandaged from a broken jaw that had been wired up in surgery two days earlier.
In 1955, Immortal Clive Churchill famously kicked a matchwinning penalty goal against Manly at Redfern Oval with a broken arm, strapped in the sheds at halftime with a piece of cardboard.
Then there’s Roosters half Cooper Cronk carrying a broken shoulder blade into the 2018 grand final.
Boxing, too, has so many great stories of bravery.
Three years ago Jai Opetaia broke his jaw in round two of a world title fight but fought another 10 rounds to win on points.
Last week we witnessed another heroic act in boxing.
Hass Hamdan tore his bicep against American Jose Luis Sauceda in the third round.
His trainer Jeff Fenech spoke to the ringside doctor and wanted to stop the fight.
His left arm was rendered useless but somehow, he kept going to win the fight.
“He kept pleading with me not to stop it,” Fenech said.
“He was in terrible pain. You should have heard him scream when it happened.
“I was so close to throwing the towel in. It’s right up there with anything I’ve seen.”
Afterwards the voice of Australian boxing Ben Damon took to social media: “One of the gutsiest performances ever seen in Australian boxing.”
COACH TO AGENT
The Canterbury Bulldogs NRLW coach who was forced to resign earlier this year now wants to become a player manager.
Blake Cavallaro stood down from the coaching role after it was revealed he had an undeclared romance with a female colleague at the club.
Cavallaro has since tendered an application for his player-manager accreditation.
He faces an interview with an accreditation committee as part of the process.
GUS FULL OF BLUFF
What game was the great Gus Gould watching on Friday night as the Broncos towelled up his Canterbury Bulldogs in such an emphatic style.
Afterwards Gus tweeted: “Of all games Bulldogs have played so far this season, this was the game I enjoyed the most. Some really positive passages of play.”
Seriously? Sounds like Gus playing his mind games.
BRAD FOR THE BEARS
Your columnist reported in July last year that Brad Arthur was the man who had been earmarked to coach the Western Bears.
Arthur is managed by Gavin and Chris Orr, who will no doubt want to help their man build a competitive roster.
It could be a concern for Arthur’s old club Parramatta where he has such a deep knowledge of the Eels best young emerging players.
YOUNG’S OLD TIES
Remember where you read it first … there’s a chance English winger Dom Young could be heading back to the Newcastle Knights.
Young was dropped from the Roosters side for the Anzac Day game against St George-Illawarra. We’re hearing Knights coach Adam O’Brien would love to get him back.
THE BETTER HALF - with Kirsten Tapine, wife of Raiders captain Joseph Tapine
How long have you and Joe been together?
Recently in Feb it was 10 years. We were 20 when we met. It has been a long time, but a great time in every way possible really.
You are a proud indigenous woman, who do you support when Joe plays for the Maori?
I’ll always cheer and back my husband, it’s always family first. It is tricky though. I want to see my people succeed, but then of course I’m going to back my husband. But we have Ilua, our daughter and she is a mix of both so that game in particular is really special. She does the Haka and indigenous war cries.
There has been a lot of travel to start the year for the Raiders. What has that been like?
When Joe’s away I become a solo mum and have to do it all. I’m thankful for my support system, but it can be challenging. We recently had a couple of deaths in the family with my nan and my cousin. However the club was good, allowing him to have some time off and attend my nans funeral.
Are there any fears when Joe plays?
I definitely get those nerves every game, and definitely keep them to myself and don’t voice them as I don’t want to put it into the universe. The HIA’s scare me. It is a bit worrying, but I try not to think about it, and when he gets through the games I’m super grateful .
What’s the hardest thing that the two of you had to go through?
When he rides low I have to ride them too. Injuries and losses are always tough, but the hardest thing was relocating from Newcastle to Canberra. We had to change a lot up in our lives, we knew no one. It was the hardest at the time but looking back it has been perfect.
When the times are good, what’s your favourite part of going to the games?
I really love watching him lead the team out, it’s a really special moment. But, I can’t go past how Ilua reacts when seeing her dad on the field or the big screen. She absolutely loves it. She claps for the viking clap, its amazing.
Is the shoe ever on the other foot, does Joe cheer for you on the sideline?
He is the number one hype person for me. My sister and I just started a podcast, The Ride, and he has been very helpful and supportive.
Any weird superstitions?
He must shower at the stadium before every game, even if he showers at home before heading off. No matter what he has to shower at the stadium before he runs out.
— Tyson Jackson
More Coverage
Originally published as Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Gladys Berejiklian’s unwitting role in Lachlan Galvin mess
Join the conversation
MP says NRL star died due to climate change
The family of a former NRL player who tragically died have slammed comments made by an MP linking his death to climate change.
Read more
Magic Round teams: Hasler axes David Fifita
Gold Coast coach Des Hasler has dropped a bombshell on the terrible Titans, axing Queensland Origin star David Fifita for Magic Round.
Read more