EXCLUSIVE: Phil Gould Reveals Bulldogs’ Strategy for Lachlan Galvin’s Role This Season

Canterbury’s Phil Gould has opened up about Lachlan Galvin’s early days at Belmore and discussed when the young talent could make his debut in the NRL.

The 19-year-old has been named on the extended bench for Monday’s round 14 showdown against Parramatta, having officially joined the club last Friday.

There has been much discussion regarding where the rookie might fit into the top-performing team.

Although Gould maintains that he does not influence team selections, he provided insights into the Bulldogs’ coaching strategies during an appearance on the Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus podcast.

“As I mentioned to the coaching staff, there’s no rush to find a solution in the next two or three weeks. We have him under contract for three years,” Gould explained.

“How much he contributes this week, or even this season, remains to be seen. That decision will be made by the coaching team and Lachlan himself.

“I’m not suggesting he won’t be on the field this Monday, but it’s far from certain at this stage.

“There’s a good possibility he might play in the NSW Cup this weekend. If not, he could be a bench option for the first-grade team.”

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Galvin is primarily a playmaker, having played all of his NRL matches this season in the five-eighth position for the Tigers.

However, coach Cameron Ciraldo has refrained from making drastic changes to the spine, opting not to drop any key players to accommodate the promising youngster.

Matt Burton currently occupies the No. 6 jersey, while Toby Sexton has been performing well at halfback.

Bailey Hayward has excelled in the utility role off the bench, and lock Kurt Mann was recently included in Queensland’s Origin squad, highlighting his impressive form at the club level.

Some believe that Galvin could one day evolve into a ball-playing middle forward, but for the time being, he faces stiff competition to break into the starting line-up.

While the specifics of Galvin’s near future with the team are uncertain, Gould has commended the rookie’s eagerness.

“He’s practically been in the facilities all day, every day. You can find him in the video room with the coaches; they struggle to get him to leave,” Gould said.

“He stays out on the training field an hour longer than everyone else, showing his determination to improve.

“We’ve made an investment in a player we believe will reach great heights. Over the next three years, we expect him to develop into what we’ve envisioned.”

Galvin’s recent months at Concord have been less than ideal.

In a candid interview with 9News’ Danny Weidler on Monday night, Gould was impressed with how Galvin managed himself.

“I was unaware that the interview was happening; it was arranged by his manager. Danny remarked that he had never encountered a more mature young man and noted how well the questions were handled,” Gould shared.

“Lachlan made it clear that he’s in charge of his life – his manager works for him, not the other way around. He articulated his desires and objectives clearly. I found the interview to provide a more balanced perspective of the situation; he was refreshingly direct and honest.

“He acknowledged that he has to face any criticism that comes his way with grace.

“A very mature response. Very few 19-year-olds would have been willing to do that interview, let alone handle it as well as he did; it was truly impressive.”