Lachlan Galvin is saying nothing and Wests Tigers are saying little more ahead of their first meeting since their messy divorce. That’s how it goes when lawyers are monitoring your every word.
Galvin swapped Concord for Canterbury after signing a non-disparagement agreement and the Bulldogs stumped up a $165,000 transfer fee, the price the Tigers accepted to part with a generational player who didn’t want to be there.
Given the acrimony, the bullying claims that were never tested and a desire to move on from the whole sorry affair, the Tigers were diplomatic when discussing their first clash against Galvin on Sunday.
Co-captain Jarome Luai, in a move many interpreted as both a defence of coach Benji Marshall and a crack at Galvin, posted “Team First” on his social media at the height of the dramas. However, the Blues pivot insisted there was no lingering animosity towards Galvin.
“Nah, never. That’s not what it’s about, bro,” Luai said on Wednesday. “He’s made his call on his future. Everyone’s entitled to that. He’s winning games of footy, he’s enjoying himself.
“So good on him, all the best to him. That’s what I’m trying to do for my team at the moment …
Lachlan Galvin and Jarome Luai didn’t last long as the Tigers halves.Credit: Steven Siewert
“I think he spoke about it already and said that there wasn’t any beef in the relationship, which is true. I did my best to try and make him a better footballer, spent all pre-season [with him]. I thought to myself we connected well and we started the year off in great form, won some games.
“But like I just said before, he made a call on his future. All the best to him, bro. I’m just focused on my career.”
In many respects, Galvin’s departure from Wests Tigers could be his Ivan Cleary moment. Cleary had a contract with the club, felt the grass was greener elsewhere and ended up enjoying outrageous success at Penrith. Four premierships later, it became evident that it was the right move.
Whether Galvin enjoys the same success at Canterbury, and whether it takes as long for the Tigers to overcome the setback of his departure, remains to be seen.
Initially, Galvin’s arrival at Belmore prompted a lukewarm response from Canterbury fans, although they have quickly come around. In the past two games, with Galvin as starting halfback, the Bulldogs faithful have come to realise what their coach did; that they are a greater premiership threat with him than with the much-admired Toby Sexton.
The reception from Tigers fans won’t be as generous. They were already off Galvin in his last days in club colours and a win on Sunday would be their sweetest of the year. Ironically, Luai came agonisingly close to signing with Canterbury himself when he was off contract, a development that would have blocked Galvin’s passage to the “family club”. This will be Luai’s first meeting with the blue and whites since knocking back their overtures, but his focus isn’t on the past.
“I’m not there, bro,” Luai said. “I was in chats with a few different clubs, but right now I’m a Tiger and that’s all that matters.”
And Luai has given his strongest indication yet that he wants to stay put. The pain of losing Galvin and fellow young gun Tallyn Da Silva is still raw, but the good news is that those currently in Tiger Town want to remain.
Co-captain Api Koroisau has re-signed and while Luai has options in his favour should he wish to leave, he said he has no plans to trigger them. Luai had to cut short his interview with print journalists on Wednesday to deal with a family matter, but only moments earlier all but pledged to see out his entire five-year Tigers contract.
“I’m staying. Don’t worry,” Luai told television reporters.
Asked for how long, Luai replied: “For life.
“[The option] is not gone, but when things get hard, people are expecting you to change. I’m not that type of guy. I’m here for the long run and I’m here to change this club around.”
Just hours after making those comments, the Tigers announced the signing of promising playmaker Javon Andrews until the end of 2028. Previously in the Tigers system, Andrews returns with his stocks bolstered by a man of the match performance for Queensland in their under-19s State of Origin victory, and a debut in the Queensland Cup last weekend.
Andrews may well play a part in the club’s future. Halves Luai and Latu Fainu are its present. And on Sunday, in the form of Galvin, they will have to confront their past.
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