‘That’s pretty much what I do’: Galvin on magic play
Jasper Bruce |
It’s been seven weeks of headlines and scrutiny since Lachlan Galvin joined Canterbury but the young gun felt none of the pressure as he came up with the match-winning play against St George Illawarra.
At fulltime on Saturday night, Galvin downplayed his magic cutout pass to Jethro Rinakama that allowed the rookie winger to slide over for a try and snatch a 20-18 win in the final two minutes.
For coach Cameron Ciraldo, the pass was “one of the bravest” he’d seen from any NRL player, much less a youngster in his first game as a first-grade halfback.
For Galvin, it was all part of the job description.
“I just saw it and took it, that’s pretty much what I do. I seen the pass and I threw it,” he said.
“I’m always going to do that, I’m always going to back my instinct. That’s just me.”
The play helped vindicate Ciraldo’s call to oust Toby Sexton for the clash in the hope that Galvin at halfback may be the answer to the Bulldogs’ long-running halves problem.
Sexton and Galvin have been jostling to partner Matt Burton in the halves since the latter joined top-four hopefuls Canterbury from Wests Tigers.
Ciraldo has played three different halves combinations in the Dogs’ last three games, but the situation appeared to be growing more urgent given finals are drawing closer.
But with the game on the line in his first proper audition at halfback, Galvin felt none of the pressure.
“Natural instincts kicked in and I seen him come up and I just threw it,” he said.
“No pressure, I put the work in at training, ‘Ciro’ and all the coaching staff and the boys have put trust in me. I’m always confident going out there.”
But the headlines have not been lost on Galvin, whose messy exit from the Tigers has been the biggest story of the NRL season.
Galvin, who only turned 20 this week, is not so naive as to think the outside noise will quieten down any time soon.
“It is what it is,” he said.
“People are always going to have their opinions but I’m just going to keep working. I listen to the people inside the four walls at Belmore and that’s ‘Ciro’ and all the coaches and all the boys.
“I keep working hard and for it to pay off tonight and me to keep building for the rest of the year, that’s all I’m going to do.”
Ciraldo indicated at fulltime that Galvin will be given extended time at halfback with the view to refining his combinations with Burton ahead of the finals.
“(Burton) is mad to play with, he’s got such a strong running game so I’m just trying to free up space for him to use that,” Galvin said.
“We’re building a good bond now. He’s real good out on the field. He talks well. Love him.”
AAP
