Departing Wests Tigers star Lachlan Galvin could decide which NRL club he will join as soon as this weekend after reportedly meeting with both the Bulldogs and Parramatta.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports the 19-year-old met with his suitors on Wednesday, with both clubs tabling offers of around $750,000 a season.
That’s a big upgrade on Galvin’s current deal — estimated to be worth around $350,000 a season — but significantly less than the $6 million extension said to be offered by the Tigers over five years.
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It means Galvin could be sacrificing in excess of $2 million to continue his NRL career at another club.
It emerged this week the Tigers have agreed to let Lachlan Galvin leave the club immediately but only if a rival club pays a reported $165,000 transfer fee.
Galvin now appears to have played his final game for the Tigers, with the club eventually giving in to demands for an early release from his contract in what has been a drawn-out and ugly saga.
League legend Michael Ennis admitted that the Eels “makes a lot of sense” as a landing spot, however comments from Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould caught his eye.
Gould labelled Galvin the best teenager he had ever seen play rugby league, and Ennis believes that’d an indication he will land at the Belmore club.
“Gus (made that claim) a number of weeks ago, then you go ‘he’s going to be a chance of ending up at the Bulldogs’ and here we are,” Ennis said on Fox League on Friday night.
“My gut feeling says he is going to be at Canterbury. I think he may end up at Canterbury and I think it will be a huge signing.
“Canterbury at the moment leading the competition… doing so many things on and off the field so well.
“Cameron Ciraldo a terrific coach and you are seeing players play their best footy under him. Players who were elite are finding improvements in their game.”
Ennis was also of the belief Galvin’s impending departure was an insult to the Tigers, considering his potential pay cut.
“That leads it all back to the original decision, which I thought was such a clip for the Tigers, that Lachlan Galvin didn’t take up a $1.2 million deal from the Tigers for five seasons,” he said.
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“Because he, I am paraphrasing, wanted to develop his game. To then go to Parramatta or Canterbury for $750,000, a $2 million difference just to leave.
“This story is enormous and it looks like it is going to come to a head in the next 24 or 48 hours.”
For former Broncos coach Kevin Walters, the Eels was the obvious landing spot while Greg Alexander questioned if Galvin had the skills to take over the Bulldogs’ No.7 jersey.
Matt Burton is unlikely to vacate the five-eighth slot, leaving Toby Sexton as the potential odd man out if Galvin decides to join the Bulldogs.
“Parramatta, it makes more sense for him to go to Parramatta… if you’re a young five-eighth and you’re looking for someone to tag up with, Mitchell Moses,” Walters said.
“I’d be leaning towards that.”
Galvin was sensationally dropped for a week to NSW Cup amid claims one of his grievances with staying at the Tigers long term was the standard of Benji Marshalls coaching.
The Tigers initially suggested Galvin would have to remain until the end of his deal in 2026 but the club has now moved to fast-track Galvin’s exit amid unrest in the playing group and the five-eighth in mediation with the Tigers over bullying claims.
The Sydney Roosters were also thought to be one of the leading contenders to sign Galvin but it appears to be now down to a two-club battle.
