Lachlan Galvin axed by Wests Tigers, Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva social media post, reaction, accused of bullying

More senior Tigers players have joined the pile-on of teenage teammate Lachlan Galvin as the fallout from his club defection turns nasty.

Club captain Jarome Luai took to social media on Tuesday with a “Team First” message, which was followed by a similar whack from winger Sunia Turuva.

Turuva – who joined Luai in moving from Penrith to Concord this year – posted a clip to Instagram which showed a photo of Galvin’s dressing room locker, and the WWE song Money Talks playing over the top.

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Fonua Pole also liked several posts from fan accounts which blasted Galvin for his decision to snub a contract extension and take himself to market for the 2027 NRL season and beyond.

League legend Greg Alexander says the pile-on amounts to bullying the teenager.

“It is borderline (bullying) to have players having a crack on social media,” Alexander said on SEN radio.

“It is bordering on going too far.”

Galvin was on Tuesday dropped by coach Benji Marshall from the team’s Easter Money game against the Eels.

Whether Galvin sees out the remaining 18 months on his Tigers contract remains to be seen, although the situation appears to be getting untenable.

It is not known if Galvin will be asked to play in the NSW Cup this week or will be completely sidelined by the club.

It’s understood Benji Marshall’s close relationship with captain and new recruit Luai is said to be the catalyst behind Galvin’s exit.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Galvin wanted more of a say in attack and didn’t like giving up the reins to Luai in the halves.

However, the publication states Galvin’s lack of belief in Marshall as a coach is the major reason why he wants to leave.

Yet there seems to be plenty of backroom politics involved.

Galvin’s manager Isaac Moses has been telling clubs Galvin won’t be re-signing with the Tigers due to the coach for months.

Moses and Marshall reportedly don’t see eye to eye.

Galvin supposedly believes Marshall’s tendency to hire ex-teammates as assistant coaches shows the Tigers legend can only take him so far in his development.

Marshall reportedly called Galvin into his office in the lead up to the Newcastle match last week as talk heated up about his future.

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It’s understood Galvin told his coach he didn’t necessarily want to leave, but was keen to test the market.

The report claims Galvin is wary of Marshall’s close relationship with Luai.

Luai and Galvin had been civil but not close according to reports, but they might no longer be the case after a clear message on social media on Tuesday afternoon.

Galvin’s resentment towards the Tigers outdates Marshall’s arrival and reportedly stretches back to his junior days, where he was played in the back-row when he thought he was the best five-eighth rising through the ranks.

Further questions were asked when the Tigers signed Latu Fainu, Jayden Sullivan and Luai in 2023 on long and lucrative deals, leaving Galvin’s camp uneasy.

That led to several requests for a release, all of which were rejected, leading into the 2024 season.

“I was shocked, not as to the substance of what had occurred, but I was shocked as to the timing,” former Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis told SEN on Tuesday.

“Lachie had requested when I was there on at least two occasions, perhaps even three, a release that was not granted. I think it was inevitable.

“I think we all knew it was coming … the boy was refusing to negotiate until November 1 and wanted to go to market, and I think that indicated where his head was at.

“I’m very concerned what impact it might have on the rest of the season because it will be a talking point moving forward until such time where it’s been resolved.”

The club’s statement on Monday declaring Galvin won’t be at the club past 2026 also sparked questions from other players at the club.

Within hours of the announcement that Galvin was leaving, Tigers prop Pole liked a post on a Wests Tigers supporters Instagram page taking a shot at the five-eighth.

“It’s a difficult situation to be in, right,” NRL great Cameron Smith said on Nine’s 100% Footy, declaring he’d be happy for Galvin to “move on straight away”.

“Particularly in that team environment when you’ve got a young guy playing in a key position, comes out and says, ‘Look I don’t want to be apart of this club moving forward’.

“While I was playing, if there was ever a player who came out and spoke about that, I’d be happy for them to move on because I want players involved in my club and my team that want to be there to make a difference.

“I think that’s what will happen. If there’s an opportunity that arises for the Tigers to find a replacement for Lachie, he won’t be there next year. Hopefully that’s the case for himself and the Wests Tigers.”

Roosters captain James Tedesco, who also had his own contract dramas during his time at Concord, admitted he did feel some sympathy for the teenager.

“It’s not easy,” the legendary fullback told media on Tuesday.

“I was in a similar position at 21 and money gets thrown around, it’s tough.

“You really have to rely on those people close to you – friends, family and manager – to really guide you in a good direction.

“I hope Lachy has that great guidance, because it is a big decision. When I was going through that decision many years ago, it was a tough process for me. I’m hoping he gets the right guidance and makes the right decision to set him up in his career in the future.”

As for whether or not the Tricolours will be attempting to lure Galvin to Bondi, that seems unlikely given the club’s long-term investment in Sam Walker and Sandon Smith.

“You’ll have to ask someone else,” Tedesco said.

“We’ve got plenty of good young halves at the club. I’m sure there will be lots of teams interested in Galvin, he’s a classy kid and he’s got a lot of potential.”

Former Penrith and NSW halfback Greg Alexander also criticised the attack on coach Marshall, considering the club has improved immensely since last season.

“The excuse about Benji not being a good coach seems like a cop out,” Alexander said on SEN on Tuesday.

“[He has] been agitating from the get go. It’s been a testy relationship the whole way.”

That “testy relationship” currently extends to the end of October next year – about 18 months away still.