The demotion of Lachlan Galvin to the Easter Monday reserve was anything but ordinary, because heavy security and an order of the media gag have overshadowed its appearance for the Western suburbs in the NSW Cup.
The 19 -year -old, who was once considered the brightest young star of the Wests Tigers, was accompanied by a personal security guard throughout the day and was forbidden to speak to the media before or after the match.
Despite the stretch circumstances, Galvin received strong applause from a crowd of 500 people while he took the ground at Lidcombe Oval, wearing black and white and number six on the back.
It was his first appearance since he rejected an extension of a contract of nearly $ 6 million from the tigers, citing concerns about his development under the head coach Benji Marshall.
The role of Makaker de Galvin could not prevent the Magpies from descending from 22-10 to the Anguilles of Parramatta, although he tried a test of assistance late in the match with a net cutting pass at Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson.
Full -time, Galvin left the field with his teammates, flanked once again by his security guard.
Lachlan Galvin was flanked by a security guard with a green shirt, a bucket hat and sunglasses for the majority of the day while playing the reserve class on Monday (photo)
Galvin did not answer any questions of the media about his split with Wests Tigers, which has become the biggest history of the LNR
Players and staff were placed on a strict media ban, which increases the feeling of a club in crisis.
The teenager’s exile follows a dramatic week which saw the situation transforming in the greatest scandal of the LNR.
Tigers were accused of having created a hostile environment for Galvin after his decision to move away from contractual talks.
According to reports, his management served the club with a legal letter alleging that the player was the victim of intimidation and refused a safe workplace since the announcement of the news last week.
The Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva teammates posted subtle excavations in Galvin on social networks in the days that followed his announcement, which caused accusations of targeted behavior.
While the West Tigers maintain Galvin will not be released early from his contract, which will expire at the end of next season, the pressure is displayed in the middle of calls for the club to return.
The defeat of the 38-22 tigers against Parramatta at the Combank stadium later during the day – a match that Galvin did not attend, apparently with the blessing of the club – only intensified control.
This defeat, and the bad discipline on the team’s field, have raised additional questions about the question of whether the Galvin saga affects the game group.
The drama surrounding Galvin’s decision went from bad to worse in a quick situation
Wests coach Tigers Benji Marshall has also been criticized and is now faced with intimidation allegations in the ranks
During the post-match press conference on Monday, a journalist asked the co-captain API Koroisau if Galvin’s situation had had an impact on the team’s performance.
Before he could answer, the director general of the club, Shane Richardson, took the extraordinary measure to cut on the side of the play and to put the journalist to put away.
“Richo is a legitimate question,” replied the journalist, causing an awkward break.
Koroisau finally replied: “We meet, we are here to play football, we just have to focus on it.”
Benji Marshall had previously defended his decision to delete Galvin from the LNR team for the Easter shock.
“I told Lachie to go back to reserve and play her best football and win a certain confidence and respect,” said Marshall.
“I thought it was the best thing for the team this week.
He also denied intimidation claims, declaring: “I don’t think he is a victim of intimidation by other players.”
“Emotional responses to things that happen may seem that, but there has been no feeling of intimidation in our end and we do not defend intimidation.”
The club’s internal response did not do much to suppress public speculations, especially after the Galvin camp has raised serious concerns concerning its treatment.
Meanwhile, the rival clubs are running, Parramatta emerging as favorites for his signature, since Galvin shares a manager with the half-back Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown should leave next year.
Canterbury’s football boss Phil Gould confirmed that his club was not in the race, leaving the eels as the most likely claimant.
