The Canterbury Bulldogs‘ decision to bench Lachlan Galvin ahead of their Round 17 clash with the Penrith Panthers has reignited debate around the club’s playmaker hierarchy, potentially unsettling a team that has surged to the top of the NRL ladder.
Galvin, who started at five-eighth in the Bulldogs’ 24-18 victory over South Sydney before the bye, has been named in the No.17 jersey following Matt Burton’s return from State of Origin duties.
Burton resumes his role at No.6 alongside Toby Sexton, leaving Galvin to reprise the bench role he played in his debut against the Eels.
The move has raised eyebrows among pundits, with NRL 360 panelist Braith Anasta questioning how Galvin will be utilized.
“Do they play him like last time? It worked then, so unless someone struggles or gets injured, they’ll probably repeat that dynamic,” Anasta said.
However, Gorden Tallis expressed concerns over Galvin’s development being stalled.
“How long do they keep doing this and holding the kid back?” he asked.
Fox Sports’ Paul Crawley added that Sexton is refusing to surrender his place easily, citing strong performances, particularly when paired with Galvin.
“Sexton had his best first half after partnering Galvin. But eventually, it feels inevitable Galvin ends up as the Bulldogs’ long-term No.7.”
There’s also growing speculation about how Reed Mahoney fits into the puzzle, with questions raised over whether Sexton could shift to dummy-half to accommodate Galvin, and how Mahoney would respond.
Despite the potential tension, Andrew Webster praised the Bulldogs for fostering team chemistry similar to Penrith’s successful blueprint.
“This situation could be toxic at other clubs. But here, the players are embracing the challenge,” Webster noted.
With the Bulldogs sitting near the summit, head coach Cameron Ciraldo faces an ongoing balancing act between short-term success and long-term planning—particularly with Galvin’s rise threatening to reshape the spine of the squad.
Their next challenge comes Thursday night against the reigning champions, Penrith.