Bulldogs coach responds to 'short-sighted view' as concerns raised over Lachlan Galvin signing
Updated . First published at
Cameron Ciraldo has shut down suggestions Lachlan Galvin could derail the Bulldogs season and believes it would be "short-sighted" to think his signing isn't a positive.
The 19-year-old has been named in the Canterbury squad after leaving the Wests Tigers last week, with his debut potentially coming as soon as next Monday.
Galvin is one of the best young talents in the competition, but with the Dogs sitting on top of the ladder, there have been question marks over the merit of his signing.
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Lachlan Galvin has signed with Canterbury. Canterbury Bulldogs
It's expected that Galvin will play halfback in the short-term, which would likely see Toby Sexton drop out of the side sooner rather than later.
There have also been suggestions Matt Burton could be shuffled out of his five-eighth role, while Reed Mahoney could be on his way out of Belmore next year.
When quizzed about Galvin's addition to the squad and whether it could throw a spanner in the works, the head coach was more than ready to defuse that idea.
"If something like that upsets or disrupts the playing group, then our culture wasn't as strong as what we thought it was," Ciraldo said.
"I think that's a pretty short-sighted view. Our job in this club is to try and get better every day and we've got to make decisions that are in the best interest of the club.
"Bringing someone of Lachie's calibre into this team and this club is a decision made in the best interest of this club and the best interest of us getting better.
"We definitely know we've made the right decision in the way that he's come here and impressed everyone ... he's gonna be a great player going into the future."
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Galvin's exit from the Tigers led to plenty of criticism of the teenager, who had issue with the way his development was progressing under Benji Marshall.
He was seen as the club's long-term No.6 but his ability and history to fill a variety of roles coming through the lower grades is something the Bulldogs are excited about.
Ciraldo said the entire squad - including off-contract playmaker Sexton - were aware of what Galvin's signing meant for them.
Toby Sexton Getty
"We've spoken to our whole team about that," he said.
"My job is really simple at times - I've just got to pick the best 17 players to help us win footy games. That's what we've done all year and that's what we'll continue to do.
"Toby knows that he's the master of his own destiny there - if he's playing his best footy and winning games, he will be in that No.7 jersey.
"We've signed really good utility players over the last couple of years that no one could really understand why. He's just a quality player and a quality person that we think is gonna make our team better and that's why we brought him here."
