The Wests Tigers hit a new low on Friday night, crashing to a 56-14 defeat to the Dragons, and the team’s latest struggles could cost them two of their best rising stars.
That is according to The Daily Telegraph’s Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield, who reported on Saturday night that both Lachlan Galvin and Stefano Utoikamanu could be looking to exit the club.
In the case of Galvin, Rothfield reported the rookie halfback was overheard in the sheds after the loss to the Dragons saying that he wanted out of the Tigers.
Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson told Rothfield that the club has “no intention of releasing him” but confirmed Galvin’s manager Isaac Moses had contacted the club on Thursday about a release.
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“It’s disappointing that the request has been made but I’m going to have a meeting with his mum and dad next week,” Richardson told The Telegraph.
“I think there’s a lot of reasons behind it.
“He’s a young kid, we’re not winning games, and he’s finding it difficult.
“All I can say we have Jarome Luai coming next year and we’ll have him, Api [Koroisau] and Jahream Bula in the spine.
“We have a contract in place with Lachlan and we intend to hold him to it.”
Galvin is contracted until the end of 2026 and had been earmarked as the future of the club alongside soon-to-be halves partner Jarome Luai.
There is little doubting there would be quite the market for Galvin should his management be able to convince the Tigers for an early release given the 18-year-old’s raw talent.
Elsewhere, it was reported last week that the Tigers had offered Utoikamanu a five-year deal worth around $800,000 a season in a bid to keep the young front rower at the club.
However, The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read said he would be “stunned” if the 24-year-old stays put, instead tipping Utoikamanu to test the open market.
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“They’ve now tabled an offer to Stefano, (CEO) Shane Richardson was expected to do it before he went overseas but he didn’t get it done before he went,” Read said on Triple M.
“He’s now made that offer to Stefano, it’s a five-year deal worth an estimated $4 million.
“I don’t think he’ll take it to be honest, I think Stefano’s plan was to go to market. I’d be stunned if he took it up.”
Utoikamanu has a clause in his contract which gives him the option to leave the club at the end of the season should he either not play two Origin games this year or the Tigers fail to make the top eight.
At this rate given the way both he and the Tigers are travelling, neither of those scenarios appears likely.
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Jack de Belin may not finish his career as a one-club man as a rival has reportedly entered the market for his services.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the South Sydney Rabbitohs hold significant
interest in the 33-year-old.
De Belin and incoming Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett have history together, with the legendary coach handing the forward his NRL debut during his time in charge of the St George Illawarra Dragons.
The report claims the Dragons have already tabled De Belin, whose contract expires at the end of the season, a one-year extension to remain with the club where he has spent his entire career.
However, the Rabbitohs would look to offer a longer and potentially more lucrative deal but it is dependent on freeing up space within the salary cap.