'You're accepted, you're loved': Galvin a hit at Dogs

Perth Now

a day ago

Bailey Hayward says Canterbury teammates already "love" Lachlan Galvin, even if the utility has to admit the new arrival may threaten his spot as the Bulldogs' Mr Fix-It.
Galvin is in the frame for a possible club debut against Parramatta on Monday, only days after his messy exit from Wests Tigers and mid-season arrival at the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs have welcomed Galvin with open arms since his arrival late last week.
Captain Stephen Crichton selected the 19-year-old playmaker to lead the squad out onto the training paddock at a session earlier in the week.
Canterbury's leaders choose a different member of the squad to perform the ritual at each session as a mark of respect.
"It's kind of just all the boys getting around that person for a special occasion, whether it's a milestone game or anything like that," winger Blake Wilson explained.
Hayward said the gesture was the Bulldogs' way of showing Galvin, once ridiculed on social media by some of his ex-Tigers teammates, he was welcome in Belmore.
"That's one thing we probably pride ourselves on, our culture is really big," the 24-year-old said.
"No matter who you are wherever you've come in from, you're accepted. You're loved.
"I hope that's what he's feeling because he's fitted in really well and that's definitely the way it is."
Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould said on his Six Tackles With Gus podcast this week Galvin's club debut would likely come from the bench this Monday, if at all.
The 19-year-old is open to progressing through NSW Cup onto a maiden first-grade appearance as the ladder-leaders determine where the versatile teen fits into their team.
Playing Galvin as a bench utility at least initially would throw him into a selection battle with Hayward, who has filled that role during a breakout season.
Hayward, highly prized at the Bulldogs for his leadership qualities, said he would "100 per cent" welcome the internal competition with Galvin.
"There's no animosity or anything like that," he said.
"The club's in a great position to be competing for spots. It's probably a position the club hasn't been in for a while.
"I can only control what I can control and that's putting my best foot forward every day at training, continually trying to work on myself and get better at my craft."
Longer term, Hayward would be open to switching to hooker should the club release Reed Mahoney to a rival club before his contract expires at the end of 2026.
Gould confirmed Mahoney's management was given permission to test the market with the hooker linked to North Queensland, who are losing Reece Robson to the Sydney Roosters at season's end.
Hayward has played dummy-half from the bench at NRL level but is yet to start at hooker in 31 first-grade games.
"Whatever the coach sees me to do, I'll do. Whether that's 9, 13, 6, 7, whatever it is, I'm happy to fill wherever the team needs me," he said.