Canterbury‘s newest recruit, Lachlan Galvin, delivered a dramatic twist in his debut match for the Bulldogs, stunning both fans and teammates with a surprise positional switch that left halfback Toby Sexton momentarily bewildered.
The 19-year-old, who joined the Bulldogs after a high-profile exit from the Tigers, was expected to come off the bench in a utility role during Sunday’s King’s Birthday clash against Parramatta.
Instead, Galvin was thrust into the halves—his preferred position—just 23 minutes from full-time, prompting an unexpected reshuffle.
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Sexton revealed post-match that he thought Galvin was joking when he was told to switch to hooker as Reed Mahoney left the field.
“He came on and said play hooker and I thought he was joking for a second… and then he goes, ‘Nah you’re actually playing hooker.’ I thought, oh righto, this will be good,” Sexton told Fox League.
Despite the sudden change, Sexton handled the role with composure, and Galvin impressed in his first appearance, even crossing the try line as the Bulldogs triumphed 22–18 before a record King’s Birthday crowd at Accor Stadium.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo admitted the late change wasn’t part of the initial plan.
“On Tuesday when I named the team, he wasn’t in it. I thought he’d play NSW Cup to learn our systems. But every session he got better. By the end of the week, it was clear he needed to be in the team,” Ciraldo explained.
Ciraldo confirmed that while Galvin is capable of filling multiple positions, his long-term future lies in the halves.
“That’s his preferred position… he did a great job tonight,” the coach said. “The learning is not over—he’s only been here a week—but it’s a great start for him.”
Galvin himself was equally surprised by the sudden call-up to play halfback but embraced the moment.
“I thought I was coming on at lock or centre. Then Ciro said go into the halves. Whatever the team needs, I’ll do it,” he said. “If we keep winning like that, I’ll do anything.”
Matt Burton, who shared the halves with both Galvin and Sexton on the night, praised the debutant’s energy and composure.
“He came on and added a lot through the middle… I thought he was great on debut and jagged a try. There’s been a lot of noise around him, but he’s handled it well.”
Team captain Stephen Crichton echoed the sentiment:
“Tonight was just a snippet of how good he can be. I’m proud he’s in Bulldogs colours—he’ll be a massive asset to our team.”
While Sexton remains off-contract for 2026, he remains focused on performance amid uncertainty.
“It obviously has its moments, but I love coming to training every day. With Lachie coming in, all the pressure went away and I could just focus on footy,” he said.
As for Galvin, the youngster says he has put the past behind him.
“I just want to play footy. I was smiling and enjoying it out there today… the boys and fans have been so supportive. This club is building something special, and I love being part of it.”
