Galvin situation comes with more questions for Bulldogs
Canterbury will roll the dice on their best start to a season in 23 years, hoping to repeat history and make Lachlan Galvin the missing piece of a premiership puzzle.
Bulldogs officials expect to have a clearer picture on the Galvin situation this week, after the Wests Tigers' teenage prodigy decided Canterbury was his club of choice.
It remains possible the playmaker could be in Bulldogs colours next week, if a six-figure transfer fee can be agreed to get Galvin out of the last 17 months of his deal.
That would allow the 19-year-old to take the field for the Bulldogs on June 9, against a Parramatta side he also met with last week.
If a deal can be brokered, Galvin's move would represent one of the biggest mid-season transfers in history.
Parramatta commanded headlines in 2017 when they got Mitchell Moses out of the Tigers early, on the way to that year's preliminary final.
But the Eels were ninth on the ladder when they signed Moses, rather than in first place like Canterbury are now.
Penrith also made use of a COVID-enforced loophole in 2021 when they signed Tevita Pangai Junior for three months on his way from Brisbane to the Bulldogs.
Canterbury, meanwhile, have a history of making mid-season moves work.
The effort to lure Rod Silva from the Sydney Roosters in 1995 was crucial in that year's run to the premiership, with Silva the club's long-needed answer at No.1.
History almost repeated in 2012 when the Bulldogs brought in Sam Perrett and Krisnan Inu, with Inu in particular starring on the run to that year's grand final.
The Galvin switch is not as simple, and there are questions over whether it has the potential to destabilise the Bulldogs.
While Canterbury had holes at fullback in 1995 and out wide in 2012, there are no obvious gaps in this year's team.
Halfback Toby Sexton has a 61 per cent win rate in the Canterbury No.7 jersey, but remains uncontracted beyond this year.
The 24-year-old has so far attempted to block out talk about his future, but that noise will only grow louder once Galvin arrives.
One option for coach Cameron Ciraldo would be to partner Galvin and Matt Burton in the halves, but that would be a tough call on Sexton after the club's 9-2 start.
Another option could be to play Galvin off the bench or at lock initially, in a move that would help ease the Bulldogs' back-row shortage.
Burton has also played centre at Penrith and the option of fullback has been suggested in recent days, allowing Galvin to partner with Sexton.
But questions would then linger over the futures of Bronson Xerri or Connor Tracey, with the latter having collected more Dally M points than any Bulldog this year.
The other quandary for Canterbury is what Galvin's arrival means for fellow 19-year-old Mitchell Woods, who has long been viewed as the Bulldogs' future No.7.
Canterbury will roll the dice on their best start to a season in 23 years, hoping to repeat history and make Lachlan Galvin the missing piece of a premiership puzzle.
Bulldogs officials expect to have a clearer picture on the Galvin situation this week, after the Wests Tigers' teenage prodigy decided Canterbury was his club of choice.
It remains possible the playmaker could be in Bulldogs colours next week, if a six-figure transfer fee can be agreed to get Galvin out of the last 17 months of his deal.
That would allow the 19-year-old to take the field for the Bulldogs on June 9, against a Parramatta side he also met with last week.
If a deal can be brokered, Galvin's move would represent one of the biggest mid-season transfers in history.
Parramatta commanded headlines in 2017 when they got Mitchell Moses out of the Tigers early, on the way to that year's preliminary final.
But the Eels were ninth on the ladder when they signed Moses, rather than in first place like Canterbury are now.
Penrith also made use of a COVID-enforced loophole in 2021 when they signed Tevita Pangai Junior for three months on his way from Brisbane to the Bulldogs.
Canterbury, meanwhile, have a history of making mid-season moves work.
The effort to lure Rod Silva from the Sydney Roosters in 1995 was crucial in that year's run to the premiership, with Silva the club's long-needed answer at No.1.
History almost repeated in 2012 when the Bulldogs brought in Sam Perrett and Krisnan Inu, with Inu in particular starring on the run to that year's grand final.
The Galvin switch is not as simple, and there are questions over whether it has the potential to destabilise the Bulldogs.
While Canterbury had holes at fullback in 1995 and out wide in 2012, there are no obvious gaps in this year's team.
Halfback Toby Sexton has a 61 per cent win rate in the Canterbury No.7 jersey, but remains uncontracted beyond this year.
The 24-year-old has so far attempted to block out talk about his future, but that noise will only grow louder once Galvin arrives.
One option for coach Cameron Ciraldo would be to partner Galvin and Matt Burton in the halves, but that would be a tough call on Sexton after the club's 9-2 start.
Another option could be to play Galvin off the bench or at lock initially, in a move that would help ease the Bulldogs' back-row shortage.
Burton has also played centre at Penrith and the option of fullback has been suggested in recent days, allowing Galvin to partner with Sexton.
But questions would then linger over the futures of Bronson Xerri or Connor Tracey, with the latter having collected more Dally M points than any Bulldog this year.
The other quandary for Canterbury is what Galvin's arrival means for fellow 19-year-old Mitchell Woods, who has long been viewed as the Bulldogs' future No.7.
Canterbury will roll the dice on their best start to a season in 23 years, hoping to repeat history and make Lachlan Galvin the missing piece of a premiership puzzle.
Bulldogs officials expect to have a clearer picture on the Galvin situation this week, after the Wests Tigers' teenage prodigy decided Canterbury was his club of choice.
It remains possible the playmaker could be in Bulldogs colours next week, if a six-figure transfer fee can be agreed to get Galvin out of the last 17 months of his deal.
That would allow the 19-year-old to take the field for the Bulldogs on June 9, against a Parramatta side he also met with last week.
If a deal can be brokered, Galvin's move would represent one of the biggest mid-season transfers in history.
Parramatta commanded headlines in 2017 when they got Mitchell Moses out of the Tigers early, on the way to that year's preliminary final.
But the Eels were ninth on the ladder when they signed Moses, rather than in first place like Canterbury are now.
Penrith also made use of a COVID-enforced loophole in 2021 when they signed Tevita Pangai Junior for three months on his way from Brisbane to the Bulldogs.
Canterbury, meanwhile, have a history of making mid-season moves work.
The effort to lure Rod Silva from the Sydney Roosters in 1995 was crucial in that year's run to the premiership, with Silva the club's long-needed answer at No.1.
History almost repeated in 2012 when the Bulldogs brought in Sam Perrett and Krisnan Inu, with Inu in particular starring on the run to that year's grand final.
The Galvin switch is not as simple, and there are questions over whether it has the potential to destabilise the Bulldogs.
While Canterbury had holes at fullback in 1995 and out wide in 2012, there are no obvious gaps in this year's team.
Halfback Toby Sexton has a 61 per cent win rate in the Canterbury No.7 jersey, but remains uncontracted beyond this year.
The 24-year-old has so far attempted to block out talk about his future, but that noise will only grow louder once Galvin arrives.
One option for coach Cameron Ciraldo would be to partner Galvin and Matt Burton in the halves, but that would be a tough call on Sexton after the club's 9-2 start.
Another option could be to play Galvin off the bench or at lock initially, in a move that would help ease the Bulldogs' back-row shortage.
Burton has also played centre at Penrith and the option of fullback has been suggested in recent days, allowing Galvin to partner with Sexton.
But questions would then linger over the futures of Bronson Xerri or Connor Tracey, with the latter having collected more Dally M points than any Bulldog this year.
The other quandary for Canterbury is what Galvin's arrival means for fellow 19-year-old Mitchell Woods, who has long been viewed as the Bulldogs' future No.7.
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Herald Sun
2 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Lachlan Galvin debuts for Bulldogs against Parramatta Eels
Don't miss out on the headlines from Bulldogs. Followed categories will be added to My News. Hey, Lachlan Galvin, here's the recipe for success to be an elite Canterbury half, from a premiership-winning one. 'When you're a Bulldog, it's a team first mentality … care about each other and prioritise the guy next to you more so than yourself. You'd do anything for the guy next to you.' That's the advice from Braith Anasta, who played five-eighth in Canterbury's last premiership-winning team in 2004, to former Tiger-turned-Bulldog Galvin. It was the mantra an 18-year-old Anasta adopted when he arrived in Belmore in 2000, which led him to a drought breaking grand final in the halves for the Dogs four years later. Now the fresh faced 19-year-old Galvin has the chance to do the same. 'For Lachie, if he buys into the culture and buys into the systematic way in which they're playing, doesn't try and overcomplicate things and really believes in the process and the coach, who's doing incredible things, then he won't have a problem,' he said. 'He'll fit in like a glove.' Anasta is glad Ciraldo has chosen to 'rip the band-aid off' and name Galvin straight for the King's Birthday clash on Fox League and Kayo against the Eels, the side the youngster ironically almost signed for. Parramatta will be out to show Galvin what he missed out on, the chance to play with one of the game's best playmakers in Mitchell Moses. But at Canterbury Anasta says Galvin will have the opportunity to make the No.7 jersey his own. 'They'd see him moving into the seven and Burton six, less disruption, and then kind of teaching Lachie the ways, the systems, the defensive patterns and getting his style more and getting it wrapped around his head,' Anasta said. But as much as the ex-Canterbury playmaker is thrilled by Galvin's arrival, the NRL 360 host can't help but put himself in the shoes of current halfback Toby Sexton who would feel been hard done by. 'He doesn't really deserve to be in this situation given how well he's played this year and where the dogs are coming. Canterbury Bulldogs signing Lachlan Galvin. Picture: Instagram 'I feel sorry for him, but it's also a good opportunity and challenge for him at the same time.' Anasta, also a player agent to several halfbacks, says the highs for Galvin and lows of Sexton is just the reality of the rollercoaster that is rugby league. 'I've got Cameron Munster who's flying and playing Origin and playing great for Melbourne, and then I've got poor Lachie (Ilias) who's in a tough situation there with the Dragons trying to fight his way back in the first grade,' Anasta said. 'I know how emotionally tough it can be and the challenge that does present to these guys, so that's why I can really relate to Toby but at the same time I can relate to Lachie (Galvin) as well, a great opportunity, he's a young gun, he burst onto the scene, got all the clubs after him. He can go wherever he wants and he deserves that because he's put himself in that position.' Despite the Bulldogs and the Eels sitting at complete opposite ends of the ladder and Parramatta desperate for a win, Anasta says there's more riding on the game for the competition leaders. 'If the Dogs do come out now and lose one, two in a row, then the drums will start beating and we've all seen the external pressures of the media and fans and they don't want that,' he said. 'They want to come out, put a good performance in, get the win and they can move on from everything even quicker. It'd be probably a relief for them given the attention that this has received.' Originally published as NRL SuperCoach live scores and analysis: Lachlan Galvin debuts for Bulldogs against Parramatta Eels
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
NRL SuperCoach live scores and analysis: Lachlan Galvin debuts for Bulldogs against Parramatta Eels
Hey, Lachlan Galvin, here's the recipe for success to be an elite Canterbury half, from a premiership-winning one. 'When you're a Bulldog, it's a team first mentality … care about each other and prioritise the guy next to you more so than yourself. You'd do anything for the guy next to you.' That's the advice from Braith Anasta, who played five-eighth in Canterbury's last premiership-winning team in 2004, to former Tiger-turned-Bulldog Galvin. It was the mantra an 18-year-old Anasta adopted when he arrived in Belmore in 2000, which led him to a drought breaking grand final in the halves for the Dogs four years later. Now the fresh faced 19-year-old Galvin has the chance to do the same. 'For Lachie, if he buys into the culture and buys into the systematic way in which they're playing, doesn't try and overcomplicate things and really believes in the process and the coach, who's doing incredible things, then he won't have a problem,' he said. 'He'll fit in like a glove.' Anasta is glad Ciraldo has chosen to 'rip the band-aid off' and name Galvin straight for the King's Birthday clash on Fox League and Kayo against the Eels, the side the youngster ironically almost signed for. Parramatta will be out to show Galvin what he missed out on, the chance to play with one of the game's best playmakers in Mitchell Moses. But at Canterbury Anasta says Galvin will have the opportunity to make the No.7 jersey his own. 'They'd see him moving into the seven and Burton six, less disruption, and then kind of teaching Lachie the ways, the systems, the defensive patterns and getting his style more and getting it wrapped around his head,' Anasta said. But as much as the ex-Canterbury playmaker is thrilled by Galvin's arrival, the NRL 360 host can't help but put himself in the shoes of current halfback Toby Sexton who would feel been hard done by. 'He doesn't really deserve to be in this situation given how well he's played this year and where the dogs are coming. 'I feel sorry for him, but it's also a good opportunity and challenge for him at the same time.' Anasta, also a player agent to several halfbacks, says the highs for Galvin and lows of Sexton is just the reality of the rollercoaster that is rugby league. 'I've got Cameron Munster who's flying and playing Origin and playing great for Melbourne, and then I've got poor Lachie (Ilias) who's in a tough situation there with the Dragons trying to fight his way back in the first grade,' Anasta said. 'I know how emotionally tough it can be and the challenge that does present to these guys, so that's why I can really relate to Toby but at the same time I can relate to Lachie (Galvin) as well, a great opportunity, he's a young gun, he burst onto the scene, got all the clubs after him. He can go wherever he wants and he deserves that because he's put himself in that position.' Despite the Bulldogs and the Eels sitting at complete opposite ends of the ladder and Parramatta desperate for a win, Anasta says there's more riding on the game for the competition leaders. 'If the Dogs do come out now and lose one, two in a row, then the drums will start beating and we've all seen the external pressures of the media and fans and they don't want that,' he said. 'They want to come out, put a good performance in, get the win and they can move on from everything even quicker. It'd be probably a relief for them given the attention that this has received.'
Daily Telegraph
14 hours ago
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Canterbury previews: Payne's prized pair primed to parlay his success
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. FRESH from his Saturday win at Royal Randwick, trainer David Payne aims to carry over his success into Monday's King's Birthday meeting at Canterbury via two of the stable's mid to long term prospects. Two-year-old duo Cosmonaut and Funky Tilda were both selected and purchased by Payne at the Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale in 2024. They were the only two lots which Payne signed off on the day. Whereas Cosmonaut was a bargain at $17,000, Funky Tilda was a much-admired filly at the sale. So much so that her $115,000 price-tag made her the third most expensive yearling of the 162 sold. 'She is quite well bred,'' Payne said. 'She's by Hellbent who is doing well out of a quite a nice damline.' Funky Tilda was the seventh foal of her Flemington-placed dam, Another Sunday, whose best performer to date is the Magic Night runner-up Blanc de Blanc who happens to be a daughter of Hellbent's famous father – I Am Invincible. Funky Tilda also boasts Flight Stakes winner Oohood as well as crack two-year-olds King's Legacy, Zizou and Not A Single Doubt as relatives. Despite the presence of so many precious horses on her family tree, Rory's Jester, Redoute's Choice, Canny Lad, Snippets and Rory's Jester among them, Payne is playing a longer-term game with his blueblood miss. Though quietly confident she will hold her own on debut in Monday's ATC Chase The Dream Maiden Plate (1250m), an awkward draw coupled with a lack of experience may hold her back for now. 'She will need a race,'' Payne said. 'She'll have that run then she'll most probably go to the paddock. 'She is still a bit of a baby but just from what she has shown me in work, she'll most probably run 1600m.' Payne is understandably more bullish on the winning prospects of Cosmonaut which lines-up in a must-see ATC Drinkwise Plate (1250m) to start the day. Payne's colt will be the only one of the eight participants with race experience having two starts on his C.V ahead of today's third. The baldy-faced bay caught the eye in more ways than one when clocking in third at his debut in the $200,000 Inglis 2YO Challenge on Scone Cup Day. He followed up with another honourable effort, this time at Kembla, when making ground late on a testing heavy (8) surface. 'Both times he found the line well which is good,'' Payne said. 'He is still learning. He did a few things wrong both times but I think he'll be better with the step-up in distance (on Monday). 'Just looking at him as a type, he looks like he would get up to a mile (but) he has drawn well on Monday and if he can maybe box-seat, that would be ideal.' Cosmonaut is a member of Cosmic Force's second crop of foals that arrived during the spring of 2022. He is the second foal of his dam, Vodianova, who won twice at Moe over 1623m. His most famous relative is Handsome Ransom who collected the Black Opal Preview and Black Opal Stakes, beating Exceed And Excel, in his first two starts. Cosmonaut is rated a $23 chance in Monday's opening race at Canterbury which is assured a widespread audience given the presence of the much touted $1.4 million yearling Central Coast. The Chris Waller-trained colt is a son of the all-conquering Wootton Bassett and the second foal of the triple Group 1 winner Sunlight. Sunlight's first foal is Dawn Service who won the Listed VRC Exford Plate (1400m) on Makybe Diva Stakes Day at Flemington on September 14. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ SHOULD Dollar Magic finish runner-up, again, at Canterbury on Monday, she will have equalled racing's perennial placegetter Tom Melbourne's extraordinary tally of 14 seconds. Scott Singleton's mare posted the 13th second of her career when beating all bar Zealously when she resumed at home on the same day as her stablemate Melody Again won the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic. Dollar Magic's numerous seconds have been as close as a nose and as far off the winner as 2-1/4 lengths. Dollar Magic is chasing another placing at Canterbury on Monday. Photo: Bradley Photos. Sometimes it has been a better horse that has beaten her, sometimes not. 'There have been a few of them that have been quite cruel seconds,'' Singleton says. 'Definitely when Fire Star beat her last prep was a cruel one, but she always does her best so I can't begrudge her. 'If she wins on Monday she is getting towards $600,000 and she hasn't won one fancy race. She's won it from just keeping on turning up and trying hard so she's terrific.' Dollar Magic has finished on the podium at 20 of her 25 starts. One of her four wins was at Canterbury which was also the venue for her only taste of black-type racing on New Year's Day. 'She got caught a little bit with no cover in the Canterbury Sprint and I thought she toughed it out really well,'' Singleton said. 'She's come on a little bit from that first-up run and gets there in really, really good order so I expect her to run well. 'Whether she can beat Zealously is the thing. It went terrific at Scone the other day but if the track is going to be a bit softer than maybe it was at Scone, I think it will suit her more than him.' Dollar Magic will have company in the float from Scone to Sydney from her in-form stablemate Fiorsum Fred which could and perhaps even should be on a hat-trick leading into the ATC Ranvet Handicap (1550m). Fiorsum Fred will be back in action at Canterbury on Monday. Photo: Bradley Photos. 'He was good the other day (in the Gunnedah Cup), he only needed another half a stride,' Singleton said. 'He has been going particularly well at home and pulling up well from his runs. He's in good shape.' For all his recent heroics Fiorsum Fred was allotted 62.5kg in Monday's mission. 'I know it sounds a lot when you say it but after the 3kg comes off and when you look at what everyone else has got comparative to you, I don't think he is that badly treated to be honest,'' Singleton said. Originally published as Shayne O'Cass' Canterbury previews: Payne's prized pair primed to parlay his success
