Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Lachlan Galvin booing became one of the main stories at CommBank Stadium on Saturday night as the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs fell 22-16 to the Wests Tigers in the NRL.
Galvin was jeered with almost every touch by Wests Tigers fans, nearly a year after leaving Benji Marshall’s side for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in a bitter move to Belmore.
For more on the Bulldogs’ frustration after the same match, read Cameron Ciraldo fumes over NRL calls after Canterbury Bulldogs lose to Wests Tigers, while official match updates are available through the NRL website.
Ciraldo backs Galvin after hostile return
“I don’t know if he notices, but it’s what’s going to make him a very good player down the track is that he deals with this stuff all the time,” Ciraldo said.
“He deals with people talking about him all the time, people booing him. I get it, it’s footy, but he’ll be a better player for it.
“Everything’s tribal, we love our clubs, we love our teams, we love our players, and that stuff comes out - it’ll die off eventually.”
The loudest reaction came when Jarome Luai stepped past Galvin and later hit the Bulldogs halfback in front of a crowd of 17,505.
Wests Tigers hold off Bulldogs comeback
Benji Marshall said fans had the right to react after Galvin’s move away from the Wests Tigers.
“You have to ask the fans (if it’s time to move on), you can’t tell them how to feel,” said Marshall.
“It’s not up to me but they (the fans) never forget that’s the problem.”
The Wests Tigers led 16-6 at halftime after tries to Jeral Skelton, Faaletino Tavana and Jahream Bula.
Jacob Kiraz hit back late in the first half, before Enari Tuala crossed after halftime to bring the Bulldogs within six points.
Charge-down call proves costly
Josh Curran looked set to level the match when he charged down a Luai kick and ran 40 metres to score.
The try was overturned after replays showed Curran had made slight contact with Luai’s legs, and Skelton later scored his second at the other end.
“What’s worse? Someone touching your foot or someone taking out your fullback and scoring a try,” Ciraldo asked.
Galvin scored in the 70th minute, but Luai later forced the ball loose from Sitili Tupouniua to seal the Wests Tigers’ win.