'We're not bullies': Wests Tigers coach and captains defend themselves amid Galvin debacle

Benji Marshall says his players are "not bullies" and Jarome Luai has denied any bad blood between he and young Tigers teammate Lachlan Galvin.

The coach and senior players fronted media on Thursday after days of turmoil since Galvin's management knocked back a lucrative contract extension with the Concord club.

Luai and Sunia Turuva took to social media to post thinly veiled swipes at Galvin.

READ MORE: Players recall infamous Bad Friday clash 10 years on

READ MORE: 'Hypocritical' Tigers blasted for 'disgusting' Galvin treatment

READ MORE: Star banned for 'touching of an intimate area' on rival

League great Greg Alexander said it amounted to bullying the 19-year-old, while the likes of Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler pointed out the hypocrisy from the former Penrith players.

In front of a media scrum on Thursday, Marshall admitted he didn't like the social media jibes.

"I don't think he's being bullied by the other players," Marshall said.

"We don't stand for bullying, and I spoke to the team this morning about it - that's not us. We're not bullies, our players are not bullies. They had an emotional reaction... but it's not bullying.

"I don't think (Turuva) should have done it... but am I going to slap (him) on the wrist for it? No, we don't need that."

Co-captain Api Koroisau denied Galvin had been bullied while Luai was pressed on his own Instagram comment.

He admitted "it has been a bit messy" and revealed none of the senior players have spoken to Galvin in recent days.

"(Our relationship has) been good up until this point. I've enjoyed playing with him," Luai said.

"Definitely no hard feelings.

"I was just throwing support behind coach, behind what we stand for as a club... we are working hard to have team first behaviours."

Luai admitted the Galvin management's attacks on coach Marshall did prompt his anger initially.

"A little bit for me, yeah," he said.

"He's our coach. If you disrespect him you disrespect us as a team, so I don't stand for that.

"I think he has (been disrespected), but that's been dealt with internally."

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Marshall, meanwhile, says Galvin will be available for selection next week, and he has no plans to let him leave his contract before it expires at the end of next year.

Galvin has been dropped for Monday's clash with Parramatta.

"As the coach I have to decide what's best for the team," Marshall said.

"And on a lot of levels it is best that he doesn't play this week. I made that decision and I supported my senior group... but it was my call.

"(He will be available) every week. I had a chat to Lachie this morning about it. He's got to go down there, play his best, and earn some trust and respect back.

"I still think he's a great player. He owes me nothing, he owes the club nothing. We've got him for the next 18 months.

"Yeah I do (want him here). I love coaching Lachie, I said it to him this morning - 'I think you're the future of the club'.

"This has been tough for him, and his parents, they are really good people. Let's just chill with all the shit that's coming his way."

The coach admitted he was blindsided by agent Isaac Moses' personal attacks on him during a meeting with club management last week.

Nonetheless, he is prepared to continue coaching Galvin.

"I think it's obvious that it's about development... I said to the players you can't be angry, or be against someone for choosing what they think is best for their future," Marshall said.

"When it comes to negotiations you have to do what's best for you. No one is angry about that.

"I was shocked by it, no doubt, and a little bit disappointed.

"Everyone thinks I can't coach anyway, so it's not that different to what's been said (by the wider public).

"I feel sorry for Lachie. He's a young kid who wants to do best for his future. He's a 19-year-old kid who loves footy.

"We need to stop talking about this, for his sake too."