‘A bit of insurance': Bulldogs yet to decide on long-term role for Lachlan Galvin
Cameron Ciraldo has praised new recruit Lachlan Galvin for his willingness to come off the bench, with the Bulldogs coach revealing he's got several plans he can use to unleash the teenage sensation into Thursday's grudge match against the resurgent Panthers.
Galvin came off the bench in his club debut and scored a try against the Eels, while he started at five-eighth two weeks ago against Souths when Matt Burton was away on State of Origin duty.
It's a good headache to have for Ciraldo, who is trying to work out the best way to fit in Galvin, Toby Sexton, Reed Mahoney and Bailey Hayward while not undoing all the good work that has shot them to the top of the table.
'I've probably got plan A, plan B and plan C again,' Ciraldo replied when asked how he'd use Galvin this week.
'He's there as a bit of insurance for our backs, and if an opportunity arises somewhere else, he's been training in a number of positions.
'He's been training really well since he got here, and every opportunity he's taken.
'I can't say too much, but it's good that we've got guys fighting for positions and guys who can play a number of positions and do what's best for the team.
'It's about making the right decision at the right time.'
How the Bulldogs look later this season could define the premiership race, but Ciraldo is taking it one week at a time, with Galvin's arrival bringing out the best in his teammates as they fight for spots.
Ciraldo noticed something similar when Sitili Tupouniua joined the club this season, with Jacob Preston taking his game to new heights to keep his starting spot.
The flip side is that Galvin has to remain patient, with Ciraldo impressed with the 19-year-old's demeanour since leaving the Wests Tigers.
'He's been brilliant,' he said.
'He just says 'whatever you need, I'm ready to go'. That's the type of people we want here.'
The Bulldogs are fresh off the bye and face the toughest test of their premiership credentials against the team that has won four grand finals in a row.
Ciraldo and a few of his players know the Penrith system very well, with Blues coach Laurie Daley just hoping all of his Origin players get through unscathed.
'It gives us a really good benchmark,' Ciraldo said.
'Whatever happens tomorrow night, it gives us a line in the sand to see where we're at.
'We've only played them twice over the last two years and I feel like we've learnt something every time we've played them.'
Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo also described the Bulldogs as the 'benchmark' right now, with the premiers finally on a roll after a crucial win in New Zealand without their rep stars.
Thursday's clash will be a fight between a proven Penrith system that has inspired similar traits at Canterbury, with the showdown to feel like Avengers Endgame when Captain America fought Captain America in a battle of identical styles.
'They're the benchmark of the whole competition and rightly so,' Yeo said, revealing he bumped into former teammate and now Bulldogs back-rower Viliame Kikau at a swimming lesson for their children.
'Their line speed, their ability to stay in the fight and be fitter than teams, and then get results off the back of that by running away with things because the other team is wilting under their pressure (has impressed me the most).
'They play that field position and possession style of game, and they've got the guys who can do it. They're really fit.'
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