'The goalposts got moved': Phil Gould explains backflip as Lachlan Galvin set to sign with Canterbury
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Phil Gould has opened up on the stunning turn of events that has seen Lachlan Galvin edge closer towards joining the Bulldogs.
The 19-year-old is expected to be granted a release in the coming days and will sign a long-term contract with Canterbury, effective immediately.
However, when the young gun first decided he would be leaving the Wests Tigers at the end of next year, Gould distanced himself and the club from signing him.
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Fast-forward to Sunday and that had completely changed, with Galvin now potentially 48 hours away from becoming a part of the squad at Belmore.
Speaking on Nine's coverage, the Canterbury boss moved to clear up the decision and why his tune had changed dramatically over the past six weeks.
"I don't think I used the term 'wasn't interested' - what I said was that we would stick to our program," Gould said.
"When he first told the Wests Tigers he wasn't gonna play in 2027, he was still contracted until the end of 2026. Even if we wanted to sign him, we couldn't negotiate until the 1st November this year … that didn't suit our time frame.
"What happened this week, the goalposts got moved incredibly, because all of a sudden we got a call on Tuesday from his manager to say there was a chance they were negotiating a release from the Tigers and he would be available.
Phil Gould has explained the call to sign Lachlan Galvin. Getty/Nine
"That's something we had to give consideration to. This week, everything has changed and everything has moved pretty quickly.
"It's a bit of a frenzy out there. Lachlan Galvin has expressed his desire to play with the Bulldogs, but we still haven't closed off on a deal yet.
"I would hope within the next 48 hours and have far greater clarity.
"Lachlan, to his credit, has come out and said his preference was the Bulldogs, so we will try and accommodate that."
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Gould has publicly endorsed the teenage playmaker on numerous occasions over the past 18 months and will now deliver him on a silver platter to coach Cameron Ciraldo.
The next juggling act for Canterbury will be around their roster and their spine, with Toby Sexton now at long odds to remain in the blue and white jumper.
Toby Sexton is unsigned at the Dogs. Getty
But according to Gould, any call on what position Galvin plays isn't his to make.
"That's really the coach and the coaching staff's thing there," he said.
"He is very versatile, he's played fullback, five-eighth and halfback. I'm not real worried about where he plays in the short-term. He's a talented player and I know he's gonna be a very good player and we'd like to be part of his development.
"What I do know is, you win comps with talented players."
