Parramatta fans may find themselves squirming on Monday night as prodigious teenage playmaker Lachlan Galvin makes his much-anticipated debut—not in blue and gold, but in Bulldogs colours—against the very club he spurned.
In a poetic twist to one of the NRL’s most intriguing mid-season storylines, Canterbury have confirmed that their marquee signing from the Wests Tigers will make his first appearance in front of an expected 70,000-strong crowd at Accor Stadium on the King’s Birthday.
Galvin’s departure from the struggling Tigers had already sent shockwaves through the rugby league community, with both the Bulldogs and Eels vying for his services.
Parramatta were seen as frontrunners, only to be dramatically rejected—a decision that now sets the stage for a blockbuster grudge match.
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has ruled out a start at halfback for Galvin, opting to keep Toby Sexton in that role. Still, speculation abounds over how Canterbury will unleash the versatile teen, whose presence alone has fuelled massive ticket sales and media attention.
The Eels, meanwhile, are quietly resurgent, sitting 16th but buoyed by two wins in their past three games.
Coach Jason Ryles, who called Galvin’s snub “disappointing” last week, has taken a philosophical stance, embracing the hype as a net positive for the sport.
“If there is hype around it, then that’s great,” Ryles said. “It’s good for our game—the more we can get good stories out there. Obviously, Lachie going to the Bulldogs, that’s a decision he made and it’s great for him and his family.”
Ryles, a former assistant to Craig Bellamy at Melbourne, also sees the massive turnout as validation for rugby league’s growing mainstream appeal.
“I’ve lived in Melbourne for quite a big chunk of the last 10 or 15 years and 70,000 is kind of normal for the AFL,” he noted. “The fact we’re talking about getting that many to a club game—that’s outstanding.”
Despite Galvin’s rejection, the Eels have yet to fill the top-30 roster spot he could have claimed.
Ryles confirmed there are currently no firm plans to do so before the June 30 deadline, though he left the door open.
“If something does come up… we’d consider it.”
As the Bulldogs soar and the Eels fight to climb, Monday’s clash promises more than just premiership points. For Parramatta, it’s personal. For Galvin, it’s a statement. And for fans—it’s unmissable.
