In a night of high drama for the Bulldogs, the club’s controversial mid-game reshuffle during their 30-12 victory over Parramatta has sparked heated debate, with NRL premiership-winner Braith Anasta slamming the decision as “disrespectful” to the team’s senior playmakers.
Teen sensation Lachlan Galvin made a memorable debut for the Bulldogs on Monday night, not only scoring a try but also taking the reins as halfback after an unexpected directive from coach Cameron Ciraldo.
The twist came in the 57th minute when Galvin was substituted onto the field and instructed experienced halfback Toby Sexton to shift to hooker—a move that stunned both Sexton and onlookers.
“He came on and said play hooker and I thought he was joking,” Sexton admitted post-match. “He said, ‘Nah, you’re actually playing hooker’ and I thought, oh righto, this will be good.”
The call was part of a double interchange that also saw co-captain and No. 9 Reed Mahoney taken off—a decision that left him visibly unhappy. Footage showed Mahoney isolated and dejected in the sheds following the win, while the team celebrated Galvin’s debut try.
Anasta didn’t hold back in his criticism of the situation.
“If I’m Sexton and we’re coming first, I’m the chief playmaker, and the new kid on the block tells me to go to nine—I’d be filthy,” he told Fox League. “And you can’t ignore Mahoney’s body language. He was clearly fuming.”
The decision not only raised eyebrows but also added weight to recent reports by Foxsports.com.au suggesting the Bulldogs had given Mahoney permission to explore offers from rival clubs. The timing, just days after Galvin met with club officials, indicates a possible shift in Canterbury’s long-term spine strategy.
Paul Crawley noted the emotion in the coach’s box and the full-team celebration around Galvin, contrasting it with Mahoney’s solitary frustration.
“You can’t hide what the real feeling was there,” he said.
With the Bulldogs riding high on the ladder, the bold tactical call suggests a clear pivot toward youth, but not without internal cost. As Anasta put it:
“There were always going to be fall guys—and unfortunately, it’s looking like Mahoney and a position change for Sexton.”
Tensions may rise further with Galvin’s promotion now confirmed for Round 15, placing further pressure on Canterbury’s evolving dynamics.
