NRL: Lachlan Galvin breaks silence on Wests Tigers exit

Lachlan Galvin issued a statement on Tuesday night regarding his future with the Wests Tigers, after news broke earlier this week that the teen playmaker would not be extending his contract with the NRL club beyond 2026.

Rumours swirled that Galvin’s refusal to re-sign was either because he could not see himself growing under Benji Marshall’s coaching, or that he wanted a bigger pay package.

This caused key members of the Tigers squad to turn against him on social media, including captain Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva.

The 19-year-old has been left out of the upcoming Round 7 clash against the Eels on Monday as a result, where Wests are $1.75 favourites across NRL bookies to improve their 2025 record to 4-3.

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“I totally understand my decision will frustrate many Wests Tigers fans, but please know that it wasn’t an easy call to make,” the statement read.

“It’s a decision that I have discussed at length with my parents, closest friends and family. I’m extremely grateful for their love and support in making this call.

“The biggest reason why I made this call now is so that the Wests Tigers have enough time to plan their roster without me in the future.

“That’s the absolute truth of it.

“The club were eager to get a deal done and so they called a meeting with my management last week.

“I could’ve mulled over this decision all season, but I didn’t think that was the right thing to do.”

Galvin was cryptic regarding his development under Marshall but denied he had already signed a deal for the 2027 season.

“I thought it would be best for everyone to make the call now rather than drag it out,” Galvin’s statement said.

“Any suggestion that I already have a deal done at another club for 2027 is simply not true.

“I’m extremely grateful to be able to go to work every day as an NRL footballer and the Wests Tigers have played a massive role in the opportunity I have to play this game.

“I just feel that as I move into an important period of my development as a half, that I continue to build my game at a different club.

“Again, I know this might be hard for some people to understand, but I make this decision in the best interests of my career.”

The Wests Tigers sit at their strongest odds in years of winning the NRL Premiership, paying $41 across rugby league bookmakers ahead of Round 7.

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