In front of a roaring crowd of 59,879 at Accor Stadium, 19-year-old Lachlan Galvin delivered a dream debut for the Canterbury Bulldogs, scoring a try and sparking a second-half surge to secure a 30-12 win over arch-rivals Parramatta on Monday.
Galvin, who signed with the Bulldogs just last week after gaining a release from Wests Tigers, was expected to ease into first-grade through the NSW Cup. But head coach Cameron Ciraldo fast-tracked the teenage prodigy into his squad, a decision vindicated in emphatic fashion.
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Initially warming the bench for 56 minutes in wet conditions, Galvin entered the match with the Bulldogs narrowly ahead 14-12. Within minutes, he was central to a slick backline movement that led to a try by powerhouse forward Viliame Kikau. That shifted momentum firmly in Canterbury’s favour.
Soon after, Kurt Mann set up Harry Hayes to extend the lead further. But the night truly belonged to Galvin, who crashed over for a try of his own in the 74th minute after linking up with Josh Curran. His emotional celebration — booting the ball into the crowd — capped a momentous evening.
“It’s a credit to him and how he went about the week,” said Ciraldo post-match. “Every session, he got better. By the end of the week, it was clear he needed to be in the team.”
Galvin’s versatility and composure impressed fans and teammates alike. Though primarily a halfback, Ciraldo hinted at potential utility roles going forward.
The win lifts Canterbury to the top of the NRL ladder with 24 points, edging ahead of Canberra and the Warriors. The Bulldogs had led 12-0 early through a Matt Burton intercept try and a Marcelo Montoya finish, but Parramatta hit back with two of their own, including a spectacular 75-metre sprint from Mitchell Moses. A sin-binning for Kikau before halftime allowed the Eels to level the scores at 12-all.
In the second half, discipline and possession proved the difference. The Bulldogs completed at 90 per cent and controlled 60 per cent of the ball, starving Parramatta of opportunity. A penalty goal from Stephen Crichton early in the second stanza put Canterbury ahead for good before their final 20-minute onslaught.
Parramatta’s woes were compounded when Moses was placed on report for a high tackle, potentially jeopardising his Origin II availability.
Eels coach Jason Ryles praised his side’s effort but lamented costly errors:
“We just gave them leg-ups. You can’t do that against a team as disciplined as Canterbury.”
With Galvin’s star rising and the Bulldogs in top form, Canterbury’s premiership push just gained serious momentum — and a new young hero.
