Lachlan Galvin will have the next six days to convince Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo to hand him a debut in the King’s Birthday clash against Parramatta on Monday.
Ciraldo will name Galvin in an extended squad on Tuesday afternoon, leaving the door open for the recruit to make his first appearance for the Dogs just a week after joining the club. Ciraldo confirmed Toby Sexton would retain the No.7 jersey this week.
“I don’t know [if he will play], we’ve got to name the team today and then there are six days left until we play,” Ciraldo said. “So, [he’s] still got four or five more sessions for him to feel more comfortable, which is good for him. It gives him an opportunity to prove to us that he should be in the team, but he’ll be named in the 22 today, and we’ll make those decisions later in the week.”
A run in reserve grade is another option for Galvin, the 19-year-old having said he would be prepared to kick off his Bulldogs career in NSW Cup following his mid-season switch from Wests Tigers.
“That was part of the conversation we had when we signed him,” Ciraldo said. “He was really comfortable and understanding that he had to come here and earn the right to be in our team, and he had no qualms about [playing reserve grade], which was awesome.
“That’s a sign of his character, that he was happy to come here and play reserve grade and bide his time. But the first two sessions he’s had here, he’s impressed us all with his attitude and his work ethic – and if he continues that, then he will be in the team before long.”
Lachlan Galvin trains with Canterbury at Belmore.Credit: Canterbury Bulldogs
Ciraldo said his coaching team had made it clear to the playing group that the team would be picked on form each week. Addressing speculation that Galvin could play halfback, Ciraldo said coaching staff had spoken to incumbent Sexton about his role.
“We spoke to our whole team about that,” Ciraldo said. “My job is really simple at times: I’ve just got to pick the best 17 players to help us win footy games on the weekend. That’s what we’ve done all year and that’s what we’ll continue to do.
“Toby knows that he’s the master there. If he’s playing his best footy, and he’s the best option for us to win games, then he’ll be in that No. 7 jersey – and that’s the same for anyone else in our squad and in our club. If you want to play first grade, be the best player in your position, do your job, and there’s a spot for you there.”
While Ciraldo wouldn’t reveal where he saw Galvin fitting into the team in the short term, he said there were more options than just playing him in the halves.
“He’s got that utility value,” Ciraldo said. “He can play in the halves, he’s played fullback, he’s played back row, he’s played lock through his junior years. He’s just a quality player and a quality person that we think is going to make our team better. That’s why we brought him here.”
The ladder-leading Bulldogs have faced questions about whether they really need Galvin given the club’s dominance this year, but Ciraldo said it was naive to think his team couldn’t be improved.
“I think that’s a pretty short-sighted view,” Ciraldo said. “Our job in this club is to try and get better every day, and we’ve got to make decisions that are in the best interest of the club. Bringing someone of Lachie’s calibre into this team and this club is a decision made in the best interest of this club and the best interest of us getting better.”
NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now
Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter
