Lachlan Galvin delivered a gut-punch to Parramatta by personally phoning coach Jason Ryles to decline their multi-year offer, opting instead to sign with Canterbury in a move that’s shaken the NRL landscape.
Galvin, one of the hottest young prospects in the game, inked a four-year deal with the Bulldogs worth $750,000 annually—just a day before joining his new teammates for training. His arrival heaps pressure on Bulldogs halfback Toby Sexton and boosts the ladder-leading club’s stocks even further.
The Eels, already bracing for life without star five-eighth Dylan Brown, who’s bound for Newcastle on a megadeal, are now scrambling to fill the void. While names like Sandon Smith and Jonah Pezet have emerged as potential replacements, Ryles insists there will be no knee-jerk reactions: “We’ll take our time and see what the market does.”
Ryles, whose team risks slipping into the bottom two with a loss this weekend, was philosophical about missing out:
“There was a player available, we were interested, we put our best foot forward—and he chose another club. That club happens to be coming first at the moment, so I understand it.”
Despite the disappointment, Ryles praised Galvin’s professionalism:
“I really appreciated the fact he called and let us know. It was a good conversation with him and his dad. We had a really good shot at it.”
Meanwhile, star Eels halfback Mitchell Moses and Origin teammate Zac Lomax are confirmed starters for Sunday’s clash against Penrith—ironically to be played at the Eels’ own CommBank Stadium due to Penrith’s $309 million stadium rebuild. The marquee showdown between Moses and Blues partner Nathan Cleary adds further spice to a high-stakes weekend for Parramatta.
As the Eels regroup and Canterbury surge, one thing is clear—Galvin’s decision has already made waves across the NRL.
