Gould stunned by 'extraordinary' Benji claim as teen superstar floated for Bulldogs switch
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Canterbury Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould hasn't completely ruled out a play for Lachlan Galvin in the future amid a claim he found "extraordinary" that the five-eighth is leaving because of Benji Marshall's coaching.
Since news broke on Monday morning that Galvin wouldn't be accepting a rich contract offer from the Tigers, reports have claimed the 19-year-old doesn't believe Marshall can get the best out of him.
The focus will now turn to the Tigers' teams in the future amid the claim, with potential replacement Latu Fainu currently injured.
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The Tigers have declared that Galvin, who is under contract until the end of 2026, won't be released early. Nor will permission be given for him to negotiate with rivals before November 1.
Lachlan Galvin braces for contact as he's tackled by Zac Lomax in a pre-season trial between the Tigers and the Eels. Getty
Discussing the claim around Marshall and Galvin, Gould described it as "extraordinary".
"I would've thought that would've been, if discussed, a private matter between the management and the player," he said on Nine's 100% Footy.
"I find that extraordinary and somewhat untenable if in fact Lachlan Galvin comes out and endorses that statement. I doubt that Lachlan Galvin will to be honest. I doubt that Lachlan Galvin will want to be a party to comments that the current coach can't improve his football for him.
"I don't think that Lachlan Galvin's a party to that to be honest. He doesn't strike me as that sort of kid. I think he would at this stage of his career, be in a position to even say that or intimate that. That might have been part of the strategy from the manager to remove him from the club ... it's not good."
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With Galvin now set to depart the Tigers, the question turns to where he will end up.
The Bulldogs are among the clubs part of the speculation and Gould was asked directly on his show whether they're interesting.
His answer wasn't a complete no.
"We've got other plans at the Bulldogs. We've got a pathway system and kids coming through. Never in my wildest imagination would I have thought a Lachlan Galvin would ever come on the market," he said.
"I've got kids they're that are in the embryo stage of their career and we're developing them as well. It's not something you can put on me right now and as it turns out he's not available for another 18 months anyway. There's a lot of water to flow under the bridge between now and then but my recommendation to him, his management and his parents would be is you need to be the best 22-year-old footballer because your career's not really going to start until you're 24 or 25."
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Among the many issues now facing Galvin will be the reception from his teammates.
Fonua Pole liked an Instagram post from a Tigers fan page criticising the five-eighth and the fallout will continue.
League great Cameron Smith believes his time will be up sooner rather than later.
"While I was playing, if there was ever a player that came out and spoke about that, I'd be happy for them to move on because I want players to be there in my club that want to be there to make a difference," he said.
"I think that's (he'll move on) what will happen. If there's an opportunity that arises for the Tigers to find a replacement for Lachie, he won't be there next year. Hopefully that's the case for him and the Wests Tigers."
