'Ease back': Tigers star's plea after Galvin saga ends

Adam Doueihi has urged people to "ease back" on criticising Lachlan Galvin as the young gun prepares to leave the Wests Tigers.

After endless speculation, the 19-year-old now looks destined to join the Canterbury Bulldogs on a long-term deal in a major coup for the ladder leaders.

While it has been incredibly messy, both the Tigers and Galvin can now move on and start fresh for the remainder of the 2025 campaign.

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A deal hasn't been formally signed yet but the expectation is that the playmaker will be at Belmore within the coming weeks or even days.

His Tigers teammates clearly aren't attempting to keep up with the twists and turns of the negotiations. 

"Is there a resolution? I don't know too much," Terrell May said on Wednesday.

"We had our first training session on Monday and got told that he was free to leave.

"He's a good kid, wish him all the best - he's got to do what's best for him and his family. Obviously I'm sad, because me and him were pretty close.

"I wish him all the best and I know he will do a great job at any club he goes to."

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Galvin has copped plenty of scrutiny throughout the process, which started when he and manager Isaac Moses told the Tigers they wouldn't accept a new deal beyond 2026.

It led to claims of bullying within the club and Galvin's character called into question. 

But with things finally coming to a head, Doueihi said he hopes all parties can move on.

"There's definitely been some news articles about it," the experienced utility said.

"I enjoyed playing with Lachie, he's a good kid and definitely got a lot of talent. I guess if his future is at the Dogs, I wish him all the best and hope he has plenty of success there.

"Seeing such a young kid with so much talent have that much media attention on him is definitely hard to take. There's always good players and bad players that come and go at each club. His future wasn't with us and I wish him all the best.

"Coming into the NRL, he's had so much hype and media pressure on him and I know dealing with him here, he's dealt with it really well.

"I hope everyone can ease back on him a bit now and let him play his footy."

May went through his own contract saga last year after being told he was free to leave the Roosters and admitted he had spoken to Galvin about dealing with it.

"Me and him spoke in private pretty deeply, but I'll leave that off the camera," May said.

Benji Marshall's men will take on the Cowboys this weekend, with Heath Mason named to play five-eighth in place of Galvin.