Lachlan Galvin's startling act in dressing room comes to light amid ugly Wests Tigers exit furore

Lachlan Galvin has been called out for reportedly informing Wests Tigers teammates he "can't wait to get out" of the club. Veteran league journalist Phil Rothfield claims the young playmaker made his position clear after "telling everyone" in the dressing rooms after the 56-14 flogging by the Dragons on Friday night that he wanted out of the struggling NRL club.

Friday night's loss was the eighth straight defeat for the Tigers, who are now bottom of the ladder and on track for a third consecutive wooden spoon. And it appears Galvin has become disillusioned with the club, and reportedly angry that he has been pushed to play through the pain of a broken hand. The teenage No.6 sat out his side's training session on Monday and Rothfield told NRL 360 that it came after Galvin expressed his desire to seek a release from the club.

“He was walking around the sheds after the game against St George in Wollongong... telling everyone that he can’t wait to get out, that’s how I got wind of the story,” Rothfield said. “He was telling everyone... if you’re an 18-year-old kid and had the opportunity to go to (Penrith Panthers coach) Ivan Cleary, (Roosters coach) Trent Robinson... whoever, all I’m saying is the Wests Tigers right now are a complete debacle. I can understand that concern.”

While there are suggestions that moving to a bigger and more successful club would benefit Galvin's development, the reality is he may not get the same opportunities in first grade that he has been given at the Tigers. First-year coach Benji Marshall was not afraid to hand the No.6 jersey to the 18-year-old rookie Galvin and Braith Anasta says it's "not a great look" for Galvin to reportedly be telling people he now wants out of the club.

Braith Anasta's reality check for Lachlan Galvin

“They gave him an opportunity when other clubs may not have because he’s a young kid,” Anasta said. “Benji backed him and gave him an opportunity. He may not be in this position where he has clubs chasing him (without the Tigers).

“He’s a young kid who really should be focusing on.... you’ve got to also protect the kid though, it’s not a great look if he gets an opportunity. Then all of a sudden he says ‘I wan’t out’ after a few losses. You’ve got to stick tight, you don’t want to be known for going around the sheds.”

Galvin has been one of the few shining lights for the Tigers in 2024 and it's understood interim CEO Shane Richardson has made it clear the club won't let the young gun leave. It comes amid reports prop Stefano Utoikamanu is also seeking a move away from the club and has clauses in his contract to explore an opportunity elsewhere if the Tigers don't make the finals and he is not picked to play State of Origin.

“Lachie Galvin and Stefano Utoikamanu believes their games aren’t developing as they should be at the Tigers re coaching and general development,” Rothfield added on NRL 360. “I’m told both would be prepared to take less money to join a more powerful outfit. Benji is a rookie coach, they just feel they’d be better suited (elsewhere)."

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The Panthers and Roosters are reportedly among the clubs monitoring the Galvin situation, with both teams losing key players after this season. But while Rothfield says Galvin is entitled to believe that going to a more powerful club would be better for his development, Anasta and The Australian’s Brent Read inisist the Tigers have every right to play hard ball with their teenage star.

“They can’t do anything about (Utoikamanu) because at the end of the year he’s probably going to be a free agent,” Read said. “Galvin they can, and Richo is rightly saying you can’t go anywhere because seven years ago this club let James Tedesco, Mitchell Moses and Aaron Woods leave the club. They’ve never got over it, so now you want them to say to their best young kid, 18-year-old, their future, ‘you can leave’.” Anasta agreed and described Galvin as “the future of the club” but reports about him wanting out of the club are certainly a big concern for the NRL cellar dwellers.

with AAP