We told very sixty year a league from every angle joining me in the great Gordon tallis Jona Australian, James Hooper and Dave Riccio and the Lachlan Galvin drama continues to get bigger, louder, and evolve at the rate and knots.
And we'll get to that very surely.
But let's not forget there is a huge weekend of rugby league on this long Easter weekend and I can't wait.
You're looking forward to a.
Gordon absolutely, It's probably one of my favorite weekends. Rugby league from Thursday or Monday couldn't get any better. And every game has got to been a meeting. Hopefully the Titans can get up. I'll be at that one on Sunday afternoon.
Good Friday, Gordy, that's where it's at.
Bunnies and the Bulldogs.
They'll get over seventy thousand in a core stadium. I love the narrative of Wayne Bennett and all his decades of experience up against Serralda.
The latest top shot broke.
You've mentioned watching the show I Reckon. You've mentioned about four to five times that you're going to this game. You're very vocal about getting to this game.
You're quite excited, very excited, Sidney, with the clubs all up in the jump in the limo.
You'll be in a limo, all theay attitude. I'm getting an uber out there and ready we have a couple.
Of cob straight in.
I'm not sure where we're sitting it, but I'll find out. I'll let you know. All right, now, let's get to back to business.
War in camps launched pr campaigns to control the narrative in regards to Lochland Galvin. Now, all week we've heard what seems to be coming from one side. But as the wig has gone on in today, hoops, I'll come to you. The Tigers are starting the toll.
Yeah, there's no question this is very ugly.
Now breath.
But what we heard out of Concord today was that it's actually Benji Marshall who has made this decision to put Lachland Galvin back in New South Wales Cup. Yes, he went to the senior players and he said this is what I'm thinking. I want to hear what you guys have got to say. They certainly didn't try and dissuade him, and then from there obviously they've made that call Locke. He's at the front of the players at some point, which the Tigers are adamant that he was
offered that opportunity. He said, yes, I will take that opportunity to speak to the players.
Did shown some gumption from Galvin to get up in front of the group, Then.
It is yeah, in the circumstances, and.
If that's clearly Hoops is reporting what he knows here, that's much more pleasing to hear than the players going to the coach and telling him which team.
To pick, because that's not what happened.
That's right, that's right.
So what I'm We're diving these a little bit more later on. Let's get to this first. The social media pileline. Did taruv across the line with the locker room post, I'll look on.
A dinosaur Raith.
I'm not even on social media, but for me, I didn't have an issue with it. But obviously out there in the modern world in twenty twenty five, the way the cards sit in this day and age, some people do.
Jimmy, I think it went too far, or I do.
If you think about it too environment, you boys will speak to it much better.
Than I will.
But that doesn't galvanize a team that ostracizes a player, that ostracizes a teammate. And I appreciate what Jimmy's saying, but at the same time he's putting on show.
He's putting him on show, and I think it went too far.
I don't disagree with that.
I think what's important to mention here though, is Taruva anyone who knows Instagram he only sent it to his close friends, so he didn't want this to go public.
He wasn't trying to put him on show.
To the public in the corners the Green Star Gus Star, so he only wanted to his close friends in one of his.
Now the catch to it is soon the River certainly left Penrith for a better opportunity at the West Tigers.
Very different circumstances.
Well, he's done it though.
He left Penrith for a better dealtances, and I would have thought that no Penrith players.
What's interesting about this, but this could prove quite pivotal in what happens next with Lachlin And.
We'll probably touch on it a little bit later on.
You know what, the RLPA raise concerns over mental welfare. How did the manager and the dad not see this coming? Now, I'll probably elaborate a little bit more here. So that post we just spoke about has now been taken to the r l p A, who have now raised concerns over mental health welfare treatment of Locking Galvin and we'll look into it, and I'm assuming the NRL will.
How do we see this?
Well, it is what I've just explained.
I think it is borderline bullying in this circumstance, ostracizing one of your fellow employees.
Let's put it this way.
If Jimmy jump Camps, I wouldn't start posting about him taking money money money or likewise.
League At the same time, it's a tough game.
Through the super leagues, and that's all they spoke about. That's all through my whole career, and they still speak about it these days. The current playscages we played in your era. So that's what That's the reason I turn up the work.
Yep.
I love my job, but I'd turn up for money. So that's just commonation. And with social media. You know the best thing about social media, I got kids.
You can turn it off. You know, bullies.
When I went I had to face him every day.
You can just go sorry, Gordy, I'll come back to you here on this, Dave.
Was the management and parents of Lachlan Gavin that naive to think that the decision that they've made, at the time they've made it, and the way that they've done it, was not going to get a reaction like this from not only his teammates, from the fans, the fans, from
the media. That this kid wasn't going to be put under pressure, wasn't going to be ostracized, wasn't going to have to deal with some big issues and some big backlash that would put him in a vulnerable position as a human being in a professional sport that could impact his mental health and put him in this position.
Now, it's okay to see back.
And point at the social media posts, right, and the river took it too far.
I'll agree with that, right.
But to now I sit back and because let's remember that the group around Galvin has I would say, agitate for this, this move right, and this could be used now as leverage to get him out, which I think is exactly what's happening.
Now.
You can't tell me that they should they this isn't the West Tiger's responsibility here now because they've done everything they can put money on the table.
They haven't told him he can go elsewhere.
So the responsibility here for me, ladies on his management and his parents.
Firstly, and answer your question absolutely, I.
Would think that the family absolutely knew there was a chance.
Of this of happening and they're okay with it.
Well, I don't know that, but I would.
Think you can blame anything.
They would be pretty.
Naive not to think that this would be coming. Secondly, to say that the Tigers have no responsibility over how their players behave to a decision that the club has made, I disagree with.
They do have a responsibility.
As there as the as the management of that club to keep their players in line and to not.
They overstfully, respectfully, they can't control.
That's modern.
But in the modern world, kids all communicate, and young blakes and young girls they all communicate on the Instagram and on the social media apps. Right, how did the Tigers supposed to control that? Where I think the Galvin camp have been naive, foolish and have also really brought them left themselves up.
In a scrutiny.
Is they've pulled the pin out of a hand renade with the way that they've handled this to go in and front Benji Marshall, well, firstly front Shane Richardson and tell Shane Richardson that they don't believe that Benji Marshall.
Benji Marshall has walked.
The exact road that Lockie Galvin is now traversing. He's been the teenage superstar, He's been the hot shot out of high school. He then went on to win premierships for that club wearing the number six jumper personally, and I've spoken to other retired champions who say the same thing. They couldn't think of a better person to be trying to help Locke navigate his way through the stage of
his career that he's at. And so it's naive to think that they haven't put a target on him by going into saying that.
And they knew full well that.
This was going to all blow up and become public.
They've pulled the pin out of the anger.
And we all know the West Tiger's called the meeting, Yes, they called the meeting. Why to try to offer an extension to Lochland Galvin. Why, well, exactly why he's not off contract until the end of twenty twenty six.
We will hang on that.
We all know Kevin in mind.
He had asked for a release twelve months earlier, right and said to you, I will convince you. Let's not pretend that there wasn't issues with Lochland Galvin and Benji Marshall going back twelve months, hence the request for the release.
At that time they.
Said, well, work with the Galvin and his family on showing you that this is a club for you.
Why couldn't they just keep going this year?
Do you think they put the offer?
What couldn't they keeping with this?
Do you think they put there?
They put the offer to Lachlan Galvin and his management because they had heard that he wasn't happy and he was talking to other clubs.
Well, potentially bro because he asked for at least twelve months ago.
But do you think that or not what I just said potentially.
Absolutely, yeah, that's absolutely a chance because because they had work to do to convince him to keep him at the club twelve months ago.
So but everyone's putting this back on the Tigers for putting the deal forward. But they've put the deal forward to say he's six million dollars. Mate, if you want to be a Tiger, you sign it. If not, you go because we're here.
What about showing the kid that, to your point, they're going pretty good ham Sex, that they're playing pretty well at the moment, get to the finals, winning through the final.
Respectfully, I told you the response the kid, the parents and the manager should have said the last two nights he should have said, this has been a great offer and we appreciate it.
Lee.
Yeah, and get to the end of the season.
The club they felt.
The agitation the Tigers, so they had to make a move. And the agitation is still happening, you know. And now the agitation is turning into the ropa, and now the agitation is turning into the social media post and using that now.
The agitation and that's how I see it.
The agitation and the manipulation and the power play and the attempt to get control over clubs is a disgrace and it's Isaac Moses. He's got a long form line of doing it.
You can go to.
Joseph SULEII when he was at South Sydney and he want options get out clauses in his contract every year to remain at the Bunnies all the way back in twenty twenty. Way't Bennett just laughed, So I'm not giving you that. So then he took him to their rivals, the Roosters. Nick Politis went out of his way to help Isaac Moses, who was deregistered at the time at one stage, get back into the game. Then he betray
and goes and takes him to rugby union. You can go back to the twenty nine team Grand Final with the canber Raiders. They're flying, one of the best stories of the season. No one tipped them to make the Grand Final or do anything. And John Bateman all of a sudden, as we're leading into Grand Final week, I hang on, I've got a new manager and I've actually got a little bit of a beef with my contract. It's just it's all destabilizing, it's all about ego.
It really is hard to stomach.
Is any response to that day?
Again?
Boys, I don't see the issue. Why couldn't the Tigers just wait? Show the kid the final series this year? Show the kids?
Did you see the common denominator that there's one percent?
Right, there's a history there, there's no doubt, right, But players fall out with coaches.
It happens only a few weeks ago, Francis Molo.
Fall out with teenagers, Lachlan Galn falling out with BENI.
We're masters, there's a spat with the coach.
We know that what is it, Well, we don't know that it's playing widely reported. What is it then that he doesn't believe in breaks Benji's Way club?
What don't but you know in saying that I went up to the lab today and got stats and then and then the excuse was he didn't think that it was good for his game and he was going to improve that.
So well, now I do feel like I'm on the rope.
I'm not what is this kid talking about?
And I'm thinking, well, if it's true, that's a great.
Excuse because a lot of kids would use it. But his first.
Fifteen games to his last twelve games, there's try assist, line breaker assists and kick meters. Well, he's improved and everything. Yes, So I just thought like when he was doing I'm thinking, well, if I was having problems, there was a Bradley Clyde that I was ringing, there was a rod Ready, there was a Steve rope. But there's An Andrew Johns and
Matthew Johns and Lorry Daily. There's all these guys that he can ring that get advice off if he wants to take his game to another level, because you get a lot of advice. Everybody has, it's not just off the cave. So I thought that was a bad excuse. And then when I use that and just on that bully and I want to go back to it. Right the worst thing said this week was that you're a shit coach out of all of it. If it's bullied
and all those things. And if there's a media post or a social media post about me saying one team and there's money, money, money, I would laugh at that. If they're saying, mate, you're not good at your job. Your shit. I don't think you're good enough. That's the worst thing said this week.
Firstly, the lab was very impressive, and you back to that. That's a very good point that you make right now, too good, And let's bring it back to the decision making process here, because it was reported, as you said, that the players had made the call the last few days, but it was actually Benji.
It was Benji, And look, I think that's an example that Benji is clearly run on the show at the West Tigers, and he went to his senior players, as I'm sure a lot of coaches do. I'm sure even Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett would do that. But he went to the senior players and he said, this is what I'm thinking, right, because the blake who I feel for the mast in all this is actually Locke Galvin.
He's nineteen years old. I didn't know what day it was when I was nineteen years old to have this much pressure, right, and millions of dollars on the table being offered, and then being manipulated and cajoled into saying that you don't think that a blake can coach. But Benji made the decision. He bounced it off the senior players. They clearly supported it, and then that's how we've got to where we are.
Was it in the best interest of the player for Benji to drop him for this week?
I say yes because I think Dave that he was going to be in for a federal reception from the West Tigers supporters. I think he would have got booed with every touch. It's different to daily Cherry Evans. He's given manly fifteen years of great service. I think Lockie was on a hide into nothing.
Yeah, look I get that. I say sit him at all together.
For the whole season.
I just can't play reserve, gread.
Not play at all. Take the week off, mate.
You saw how the Dragons handed the Francis Molo situation. Francis had an issue with the coaching starts. To take some time out, mate, go away right, It's resolved itself. It resolved itself. We didn't have any of the drama we've got to I gret it. Different circumstance, however, I say sit the kid out this weekend.
The emotion, as we know, the emotion comes out of these issues in the game all the time.
Take the emotion out of it, let it settle for a week, then come back to it.
I get it. I get that position.
But at the same time Lockie arrived at training yesterday, Benji spoke to him and said, you don't have to, but if you want to speak to the group you can.
Locky agreed, and.
As you pointed out earlier, credit to him for having the gumption.
To do that.
But then he actually said to the playing group. In essence, the key points were boys. You do you and I'll do me. I know there's big distractions at the moment, but you do you and I'll do me.
Now, if I'm another one.
Of the West Tigers players, I'm sitting there ch you and Broken Glass said.
It went down horribly and mentioned it last night.
And I spoke to some people inside the West Sidies camp today and I reckon it was disaster.
Okay, okay, So you're just different.
You just explained he's nineteen years yes, and that you feel sorry for him, but you're happy for him to stand up in front of a playing group and explain himself.
When well, we contend that that it happened, well he.
Was, well, I do you agree that a nine year old should explain it?
It doesn't matter that it was, it was. And he said, I've got.
No I think. I think you buy the ticket, you take the ride, you want a million bucks? This is the game power, right, I've got no problem.
To you make your bed, you lie in it. Yeah, this whole situation, you make your bed, you're lying it.
Yeah, And there's not And has he asked for releases yet? I mean, on this time around, has he requested the release?
Let's be honest, has.
He he's agitating request?
So you're going you're trying to be official all of a sudden and say that as he as he asked for a release.
What's going on, Dave? Well, can you not read between the lines here?
What what's that?
He's not asking for a release, they're pushing for one.
They're making it happen d enough to be dropped the new South Wales up.
But they've got the r l.
P having to play NRL.
They've gone and got the RL per a involved straight away. Isaac Moses is close with Clinton Newton.
Blind Freddie can see what's going on here right now that they have told the Tiger.
Now they've told the.
If you're looking on me with a coach and so you can't coach and I don't want to be here and you're nineteen years old, how else is that going to end other than you trying to get out of the joint all right now?
This is an interest one to Jerome Leware going to the club for premierships.
He's won at Penrith Panthers and he's.
Coming to a new system, new coach and he's had.
An immediate impact.
But how have we seen his role this year and how has he handled this situation.
Well, i'd throw it back at you, Broth because you are the number six jumper. But from an outside point of view, one thing I've noticed watching Locke is how much work he does throughout the game. He's on the left side of field, he's on the right side of field, then he's having.
To carry through the middle.
Whereas Jerome he looks he's not playing the same style as he was at Penrith.
You know what, you watch the games this year and it even stands out more now. You know, I'm watching him thinking Jesus changed the way that he's playing. This year's you know, like he's very controlled, he's kicking games, been on point, his game management has been superb. So he's actually put his ego aside derone this year for Lochlan Galvin to play the way Lachland wants to play, and that's what That's what builds so much emotion here and this is why there's tension and this is why
the club is where it's at. We've got a full time Premiership player going to a club and putting his ego aside and playing a different style of footy for a nine year old kid to keep him happy, right, And you can see that because Lachlan Galvin's actually played this year like Jerome did the Panthers. He's drifting around, taking opportunities when he can, playing off the cup, making errors, but coming up with big plays, which is normally Jerome.
Right.
Jerome's been the steady head. So he's actually gone, you know what, team first mentality, team first mentality, whereas the other kids have been the opposite. And that's been shown by the reaction in all this.
So you know, like.
I give so much credit to Jerome, like Jerome's cops so much over the years, and I think I think he's sort of proven everyone wrong long before now, like long before now. And that's why with that, with that post the other day, I was okay with it because he's earned the right.
You know, he's put the team, he has put his ego.
We will say this, and I'm going to come back at you out.
He's got two clauses in his contract at the West Tigers, so what so we can get out at.
The end of this year.
He doesn't want to get out.
He's shown so now he's staying five years. Absolutely well, no one knows that. Well, he's got two clauses.
But evidence first. Okay, Then so you're saying he's not putting the team first.
Hey, you're saying he start, you're speaking he's got two guys.
But you're insinuating he's going to walk out.
Well, he's declaring his action, showing you he's going to walk out on that club in the world.
So what do you what do you just speculating?
I would hope that he takes the causes out of his contract.
Do you think that he will?
If he's a team first player, he will.
Because he's putting the team first. Can't you see the evidence of.
That as a footballer, But why would you put clauses in your contract?
Because he's coming to.
Get him there?
They're coming off three spurs and someone and they committed, They.
Tried, They gave him six million round.
Take him to the finals, Take who to the finals?
Looking well, hold on, hold on through, keep him in first, get to the finals, keep a player developing because he's leaving, you go and put you're gonna put effort to somewhere else because grass ain't greener with him.
You spotted it.
Then you're just playing straight to the managers releasing him.
No, No, I don't think that will I think that.
I think the.
Clubs, the West Tigers in this situation, right, they have developed so and the fans have been through a lot. The manager did it to Tedesco, Woods and all those other guys, right, and now he's doing it again. I think the game needs to stand up for one and kids can't keep on doing I did it twenty years ago. I paid the price right, and Dragon's had every right, and they showed some spine. And I'd like to see the clubs get back a little bit, just a little
bit more muscle. Couldn't and the managers don't have.
Something agree more with you by releasing him plays into the to the to the play that we're talking about, right, Keep him at the club and make the finals and convinced one.
In reserve grade.
It doesn't prove anything. Sitting reserve grade, what does it do?
It?
Only it only coaching opportunity win win a lost record.
He doesn't like Benji?
How would you feel if you will Benji and he's walked in into I don't think you're cann improve my football.
Do you want him in your team?
Then?
Probably not?
No, So that's going to be.
But I think Benji will put the team first. I think he's back in reserve grade in the short term, right. But if he goes back, performs and the Tigers need him back in the side and he repairs things with his teammates happened, there are a.
Better team with him in the side.
Yeah, But we'll see on Monday how they react. I'm looking forward to Monday. This is going to be a cracker honestly, you know. I think it will build that resilience in camaraderie in the team. I'm looking forward to the response and I think time will tell with that. But one thing that's for sure with Benji Marshall's coach and Shane Richardson is as the boss, they're not going to just let him go for nothing. They don't need the money. The money means nothing got to make. They
want to player in return. And what player are you going to give the Tigers from Paramatta or ball the West?
The West million dollar player for a million dollar Honestly.
The West Tigers have been a laughing stock and a doormat for two long Other clubs have just chair picked their best talent and just walked.
All over him.
But to Riche's credit and to Benji's credit, they've shown some fortitude here. They've saying that they've got a set of stones. They're not going to be walked over. I think that they I think that Loki will remain at the club for the remainder of this year. Beyond that, I'm not so certain. The other element of all of this, and the whole Benji and Isaac Moses bust up, you can trace it back at Concord to when John Bateman left and also when David Klema left. They're both managed
by Isaac. Right, Bateman had a spectacular bust up with Benji at training. You treat the kids like rock stars, you treat the senior players like kids. He finished up splitting, and then it was a similar what wasn't a similar story with Clemma, But Klama was also forced.
Out of the joint.
Isaac got his nose out of the joint about that, and I think this is part of a square.
Up, all right.
We spoke about last night the Bulldogs Gus school. He's admiration for Lockie Galvin, and we spoke about whether there was a possibility that he could in there, and.
But over the last forty eight hours.
Do you think what's happened could have turned the Bulldogs off and Gas off.
Of signing Lachlan at the club or not.
Players want good players, Coaches want good players, and Lock he's a talent, you know, there's no denying like going forward like you'd have some reservations on how how much maturity and maturation there is with lockey and whether it can handle the spotlight that's going to be on him. But that also, as I said earlier, that also comes with the position that he plays and the money that he's going to earn wherever he plays.
I don't I don't think so Okay.
Where does he fit in there? Like we again last night we touched on it.
Didn't think it was the you know, in the halves given the circumstances there with Burton and Sex them.
And Crichton, what any for us where Well, I just you have to think about it, right, how do you get Lochlan Galvin into the Bulldog side and and coming through the ranks he played a fair bit of back row and he's a big boy and nineteen years of age still developing like a lock him and so therefore Broth yeah, I even I know that for a fact that Tim Sheens saw Lochland Galvin as a future Locks.
A great point you're making, because like we're trying to fit him into this team, we're not.
Once we mentioned Lock.
I think about Lock, you know, and I look at Lochland Galvin like on Isaiao, you know, with he got Sexton and Burton and him playing thirteen like on is Ao, and you've got the need to really disrupt much. A lot of it would come down to his personality because the Bulldogs are big on personality.
This is not a good look on Galvin.
What's happened here over the past forty eight hours, which is what I was alluding to more so, is that you know, they're big on culture and they're big on someone fitting in no disruption.
So that's that's a that's a hurdle.
But the thirteen, Yeah, thirteen, But thirteen's they get paid better?
Say this?
Yeah, well, a couple of things.
Firstly, with the Bulldogs have the salary cap space, because let's be real, if it's not a million dollars, it's going to be close to a million dollars. So I would think they might have to do some juggling to be able to fit him in, but.
Really just said it's all about development and he should be looking at around the eight hundred thousand dollars.
Mark, right, You're right.
Look, I think the other really strong link from the Lachland Galvin camp with the Bulldogs is Luke Vella, one of their assistants. He was his coach at Westfield Sports High they won the schoolboy competition back in twenty twenty three. Locke still talks to him on a regular basis.
So there is a very direct I think a lot of.
Noise around that.
Okay, now let's move on to the favorites the Paramount of Eels. There are dollar ten apparently Lachlan Galvin, you know, a big chance of going there.
And what I can't get my head.
Around here is is that development, development, development, And we've got Lachlan Galvin a dollar ten favorite to go to the Paramount of Eels, which, mind you, I see as a great combination with Moses, probably the best.
Out of the options right now in the halves.
But it kind of contradicts the reason why he's leaving the Tigers, doesn't it.
There's no doubt it flies in the face of what we're talking about here, and as far as Lucky not having tremendous faith in what the direction Benji's going.
And then you.
Throw in Jason Rowles, what how many games in six weeks into his one and six six weeks into his NRL career. Look, I think the key catches here is Mitch Moses. You know, he's just there's a lot of talk that.
He's a future coach.
Within himself and the tutelage that he would get off mich Moses.
I think that's.
The key, and his Isaac's cousin.
Yeah, there's that.
He's He's I grew up a Paramatta fan, came through a part of their system.
He left Parrot. Didn't correct me if if I'm wrong. Didn't he get the ships?
Didn't he get the ships at the Eels when he was a younger black because he was told you're not in our best third, am, and that was how he ended up as a Campbellton Jine.
Yeah, that's right. Yeah, pathway was blocked. Things change hoops.
And Moses is a better Halves coach and mentor than jerame Lew.
Well, yeah, if he ends up, if he ends up at Parodies.
If they're a dollar ten, this is just amazing.
If they're a dollar ten, I might have to snip both of you blakes, because I don't want to spend my money on Paramar At a dollar ten. That seems way too short at this point in time.
You blokes have been awesome. That was fun.