Officials from the Canterbury Bulldogs and Parramatta Eels have met with Lachlan Galvin and tabled offers of around $750,000 a season to the 19-year-old playmaker.
The Bulldogs and Eels held meetings with Galvin on Wednesday as he prepares to make a decision on his future as early as this weekend.
The offers from the powerhouse Sydney clubs are for considerably less than the salary Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson was willing to pay Galvin when he prepared a contract upgrade and extension worth close to $6 million over five years. It’s believed the offers from Parramatta and Canterbury are for a shorter duration.
Galvin’s decision to turn down Richardson’s offer and potentially accept $3.5 million less to move across town speaks to his frustration with his development at the Tigers.
The Tigers have attached a transfer fee of close to $165,000 to Galvin’s release before November 1 – a sum Parramatta and Canterbury are willing to pay. It is considerably less than the fee of close to seven figures the Tigers initially sought to impose.
The Bulldogs have long maintained a strategy of only signing players who want to play for the club. Sources with knowledge of the situation talking on the condition of anonymity told the Herald Galvin has a strong desire to play under Cameron Ciraldo at the Bulldogs.
Increasing the appeal of the Bulldogs is Galvin’s relationship with assistant coach Luke Vella, a close friend and Galvin’s former high school teacher.
Galvin has also struck up a relationship with Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses, who has been in the playmaker’s ear about joining the Eels to wear the No.6 jersey set to be vacated by Dylan Brown when he joins Newcastle on a record $13 million deal next year.
Galvin’s future at the Bulldogs wouldn’t be as straightforward, with Matt Burton the incumbent five-eighth at Belmore. Galvin’s potential arrival would all but end Toby Sexton’s time at the club and put Ciraldo in a position where he has to develop a No.7 from within.
Galvin last month informed the Tigers of his desire to depart at the end of his contract, which runs until the end of 2026.
Parramatta haven’t hidden their desire to lure Galvin, a childhood Eels supporter. Parramatta coach Jason Ryles sees hims as the ideal replacement for Brown.
“I made my [interest] clear a couple of weeks ago. That hasn’t changed, so we’ll wait and see what happens,” Ryles said. “The rule is you can’t negotiate until they get permission to, so until that happens we’ll keep our position there. Lots of strange things happen in footy [though], but we’ll make sure we do the right thing with the NRL.”
Replies
That's what you do when you haven't developed players you buy time.Thats what Gus has done at the dogs they haven't overpaid for anyone and there flying now.
I have no doubt with the relationships they've started in NZ Fiji and alike they are well on there way.
There leading the comp with a spine that's no better than average also.
They have done well but I think if Galvin was to join Parra and a few forwards are signed we could easily match the dogs. Ryles seems to be building something he just doesn't have the cattle yet. Fair point but
100 I think if JR gets Galvin that's his signature signing really stamping his mark on the roster.Even with him we are still a couple of years away but landing him pushes us in the right direction.
thats what we thought with Dylan B ....cant see him coming our way Id be shocked and happy to have egg on my face
Ahhhhh now I wonder why this is heating up , this good publicity leading upto the game against the doggies.
I thought part of mitch resigning was that the club get galvin back eventually. I'm pretty sure I read that somewhere
On here 😂
Mitch re-signed as he is getting top dollar with no real pressure...he can play within himself remain a princess and do enough for rep selection....He is exactly how Ponga is for Newcastle. Doesnt have to play through injury can take as much time to address minor injuries with lengthy off field recoveries....when has he played hard and with injury to win for us and be in the trenches ....?? and his cousin or uncle or what ever is a cancer in the NRL
Can't argue with any of that mate.
Word is done deal at the doggies
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