‘I Honestly Thought He Was Joking’: Bulldogs Star Shares a Funny Moment After Lachlan Galvin’s Debut Goal

Lachlan Galvin truly lit up the Bulldogs crowd during his debut, crossing for a try in the second half after biding his time for the perfect moment.

The 19-year-old spent nearly an hour on the bench before taking to the field against Parramatta, helping his team secure a solid 30-12 victory in the latter stages of the match.

Yet, the highlight of the day was Galvin, who only joined the club officially a week prior and has already made a lasting impression on the Canterbury supporters.

In the 73rd minute, with the Bulldogs comfortably ahead of their long-standing adversaries, Galvin made his mark, supporting a play to burst through and score, adding the finishing touch to the celebration.

The enthusiastic crowd reaction was a clear indication of how much they welcomed his arrival.

“The crowd has gone wild here at Accor Stadium,” Greg Alexander remarked on Fox League.

The camera panned to coach Cameron Ciraldo, who was beaming with joy, celebrating as Galvin’s teammates surrounded him in excitement.

“Just look at Cameron Ciraldo’s reaction,” former league star Cooper Cronk noted.

“I must commend this young talent – there was significant buzz around his signing here at Accor Stadium, yet he spent 60 minutes on the bench.”

“He seized his chance and just played footy without hesitation,” Cronk continued. “The positivity from his teammates and the stadium is palpable; this kid has made an impact.”

Galvin’s entry resulted in a reshuffling of Canterbury’s spine, with Galvin moving to halfback, Toby Sexton stepping into hooker, and Reed Mahoney exiting the field.

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Sexton later admitted that he was unaware of Ciraldo’s plan. “I’ve got no idea,” he told Fox League after the match. “He came on and said ‘play hooker’, and for a second, I thought he was joking.”

“I’m not entirely sure what’s happening, but ultimately it’s up to the coach to decide my role, and I need to give my all,” he added. “These are good problems for the coach to have.”

When pressed about Galvin’s future in his press conference, Ciraldo kept his cards close to his chest but hinted that the young player would mainly feature in the halves.

“We had a few strategies in mind, but that wasn’t the primary game plan—I’m not able to disclose specifics,” he said. “It’s been a tough week for him to acclimatise. When I announced the team, he wasn’t included, and I anticipated he would participate in the NSW Cup.

“With every training session, he demonstrated noticeable improvement and a better grasp of our systems. By week’s end, it was evident we needed him in the squad. His preferred position is in the halves, and he performed admirably tonight, though there’s still room for growth.

“Today was a brilliant starting point for him, and we’re immensely proud of him.”

Galvin shared that sitting on the bench for most of the match was quite surreal, particularly given the conditions at Homebush, and he spoke openly about the warmth he felt from the club and its supporters.

“It was pretty odd—freezing and raining. I was in my jumper trying to get Ciro’s attention to get me on sooner,” he recounted to Fox League.

“I simply want to play footy; I was smiling out there and enjoying every moment today.

“The fans were incredible and their support throughout the match was quite something. When I scored, the joy they showed was unreal.

“My teammates have been incredibly supportive, and I’ve loved every minute here. It feels like the club is creating something truly special, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Galvin will have another chance to shine next weekend, likely donning the No. 6 jersey with Matt Burton absent due to State of Origin responsibilities.