'I've been in his shoes': Why Benji still thinks Galvin is future of club
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Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall believes wantaway teenage star Lachlan Galvin remains the future of the club and hasn't given up hope of him staying.
Despite dropping Galvin to NSW Cup after he declined to take up a massive contract offer to extend his time at the Wests Tigers beyond 2026, Marshall said he wanted to continue coaching the 19-year-old playmaker.
Addressing a large media contingent after training at Concord on Thursday, Marshall said he had spoken with Galvin before the session and refused to "give up" hope of the rookie five-eighth remaining at the club long term.
“I love coaching Lachie, I really do,” Marshall said. “I said it to him this morning, ‘I enjoy coaching you, you're a pleasure to coach.
'I actually think that you're the future of the club, even though you don't think that you are right now’.
Marshall admitted he was stung by revelations that Galvin’s manager Isaac Moses had told club management that one of the reasons for rejecting the contract extension was because of his coaching ability.
Given Galvin’s rapid rise last season, the NRL Hall of Famer found it hard to understand why he would feel that way.
“I think it's obvious with the statement that it’s about development but at the end of the day - and I said this to the players - you can't be angry about someone doing what they think is best for their future,” Marshall said.
“I'll be honest, I was shocked by it, no doubt. But at the same time, everyone thinks I can’t coach anyway so it's not that different to what's being said. If I’m not the best option, then I’ll go but right now I'll back myself.
“All I can say is that he has played some pretty good footy in the last 12 months - whether that is because of me or because of him who knows.
"He played for the Prime Minister’s XIII at the end of the year, and I still think he is a great player.
“He owes me nothing, he owes our club nothing. At the end of the day, it is what it is. People come and people go, but the club is bigger.
“We’ve got him for the next 18 months, so he's got to get through this game and put himself in the frame for selection next week.”
With rival clubs unable to begin negotiations with Galvin for the 2027 season before November 1, Marshall refused to rule out the possibility that he may change his mind.
"Have I given up, no," he said.
Marshall also downplayed suggestions of bullying after social media posts by Wests Tigers co-captain Jarome Luai and star winger Sunia Turuva.
However, he addressed the playing group about the issue.
“I talked to the team about it this morning; that's not us, we're not bullies, and our players are not bullies. They had an emotional reaction to one of their team-mates [leaving] but it's not bullying, I can guarantee that,” Marshall said.
“I don't think he's been bulled by the other players. I think emotional responses to things happening might seem like it, but there's been no sense of bullying at our club, and we don't stand for bullying at our club.”
Asked about the role of Luai and co-captain Api Koroisau in the decision to drop Galvin to NSW Cup this weekend, Marshall insisted it had been his call.
“To clear things up, I called the meeting with the senior players. I think it's important as the coach that you've got the support of the senior players,” he said.
“I had chat to Lachie this morning about it, I said ‘you just go back to reserve grade and play your best footy’. The thing about footy is you get 80 minutes to block everything else out and you just play, and that's what he loves to do.
“His favorite day is game day, so he's got to go down there, play his best and then earn some trust and respect, and put himself in the frame for selection next week.”
“I actually really feel sorry for him. He's a young kid who wants to do what's best for his future. Now the reaction's been overwhelming for him, and I can understand that.
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"I've been in his shoes and I understand what that pressure's like, but what we've got to remember is that he's a 19-year-old kid who just loves footy.
Galvin will play NSW Cup for Wests Magpies on Monday against Parramatta at Lidcombe Oval and Marshall believes it may be better for him than being the centre of attention at CommBank Stadium in the NRL clash.
“I've got care for Lachie, that's been there forever. I've never once put him in a position where he felt uncomfortable,” Marshall said.
“I'm all about the mental wellbeing of our players, and this has been tough for him and his parents. People need to understand they're really good people and they want the best for their son.
“As a parent, if I put myself in that position, I'd be the same way for my son, so we need to just take a chill pill. I understand the emotion and the enormity of the way the fans feel, the way the club feel, the way everyone feels.
“It is big, but he's a kid and my point is that we need to stop talking about this, for his sake too. We need to play this week and move on to next week, and that's what he needs to do too.”
