Wests Tigers fans can boo Lachie Galvin all they want

Lachie Galvin’s unflappable nature will ensure he has no problems handling a hostile reception from Wests Tigers fans on Sunday.

“It’s funny when you say you’re not worried about a 20-year-old and how he’ll handle his emotions in that sort of environment, but there’s nothing I’ve seen from Lachie that will have me worried about anything that might happen this weekend,” Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo said on Monday.

“That’s another thing that makes him the player he is – he doesn’t seem to worry about any of that stuff.

“He’s had a few [frosty] receptions already. The day he played at Leichhardt against the Sharks once he came back into the Tigers team, that was the day that impressed me the most, just how he dealt with things and got his game on.”

Galvin’s messy split with the Tigers has been one of the major storylines of the season. The Tigers were prepared to offer him more than $1m a year over five seasons, but Galvin’s agent told the club not to bother, and they were prepared to explore their options elsewhere.

Several Tigers players later took to social media to express their disappointment with Galvin, with coach Benji Marshall taking the extraordinary step of sending the youngster back to reserve grade.

Lachie Galvin’s Canterbury clashes with Benji Marshall’s Wests Tigers this Sunday.Credit: Jamie Brown/SMH

Bulldogs legend Terry Lamb was another backing Galvin to cope with anything thrown at him at CommBank Stadium on Sunday, on and off the field.

“They’ll go after him, for sure, and that’s good for us because if they go after him, they won’t worry about anyone else; Lachie won’t care what happens,” Lamb said.

Ciraldo added: “One thing this group has prided itself on is staying connected as a team in every situation. I won’t be expecting anything different this weekend.”

Galvin has started the past two matches at halfback for the Dogs, which included a miracle pass to win the game against the Dragons, while his on-field chemistry with Matt Burton – one of the competition’s form five-eighths – looked better again in the 42-4 hammering of Manly, and will only improve further in the run home to September.

Ciraldo and skipper Stephen Crichton laughed at Sunday’s post-match press conference about how they had to tinker with things at training during the week, which was a reference to a forgettable, clunky training run on Friday night.

While there will be plenty of fireworks at CommBank Stadium, there will be a couple of other key storylines featuring playmakers and past and future NRL clubs.

Adam Reynolds and Michael Maguire versus South Sydney

Adam Reynolds will on Friday night look to inspire a Brisbane win over South Sydney, his childhood club that was only prepared to offer him a one-year extension for the 2022 season because of concerns about his age and how much longer his body would hold together.

Expect Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds to be in a mood against former club South SydneyCredit: Getty Images

Souths are now struggling with injuries across the park, including in their halves, and could have done with Reynolds who prepares to play game No. 75 for Queensland’s biggest club.

Wayne Bennett left Souths at the same time as Reynolds at the end of 2021 – only to return as head coach this year – and encouraged the halfback to consider a move to the Broncos because he knew the club and city would embrace him and his family.

Bennett was sacked by the Broncos himself at the end of 2018, and can only hope his old club – and halfback – have an off night as Souths look to avoid the wooden spoon.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire has his own motivation to get one over Souths, the club he led to 2014 premiership glory, only to be axed three years later. Maguire has only beaten Souths once in seven attempts when coaching against them, including a heavy loss in 2022, which resulted in him exiting the Wests Tigers.

DCE and Manly versus the Sydney Roosters

One of rugby league’s worst-kept secrets is Daly Cherry-Evans’ move to the Sydney Roosters next year, with the Manly skipper to take on his future teammates in a must-win game on Saturday night.

Daly Cherry-Evans and Manly host his future employers the Sydney Roosters on SaturdayCredit: Getty Images

Cherry-Evans announced at the start of the season he would quit the northern beaches’ club after 14 years, but was not yet done with the NRL.

Fans had nothing but love for Cherry-Evans when he played his first game at 4 Pines Park after news of his departure was made public.

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But their patience is sure to wear thin if the Sea Eagles are on the end of a second shellacking in the space of six after Sunday’s 42-4 defeat against Canterbury.

It has been widely reported Cherry-Evans will wait until Manly and the Roosters have played their last game before he confirms his Bondi deal. Those in Manly’s inner sanctum have been kept up to speed by Cherry-Evans about what is happening.

The post-season announcement was exactly what happened with Cooper Cronk when he departed Melbourne after 14 years, the same amount of time DCE spent in first grade at Manly.

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