The Debate Over Lachlan Galvin’s Position
The ongoing debate about whether Lachlan Galvin is a six or a seven has reached a critical point. After a disappointing loss to an injury-plagued Brisbane Broncos team on Friday night, pressure is mounting at Belmore. Prominent figures in the NRL are now weighing in on where Galvin’s future lies on the field.
Rugby league legend Andrew Johns has made a bold statement, suggesting that the Bulldogs should consider debuting young halfback Mitchell Woods and shifting Galvin to the five-eighth position. This move, according to Johns, could help streamline the Bulldogs’ attack.
Mitchell Woods is seen as the long-term playmaker for the Bulldogs. With Galvin’s skill set suited to a running style of play, Johns believes that coach Cameron Ciraldo should make the change.
“I don’t think Matt Burton is an out-and-out five-eighth. He’s a running five-eighth,” Johns said on the Sunday Footy Show coverage. “If you’re going to have a big running five-eighth, you need an on-ball halfback who does everything.”
Johns highlighted that Galvin is still developing his game and sees him more as a long-term five-eighth. He noted that Galvin wants the ball but needs to understand his role better.
“He’s got that thing where he’s going to the right side where he’s going to Jacob Preston, which I think he’s going to too much with Preston. But he’s still learning his game, and I still think he is an out-and-out five-eighth moving forward.”
Johns also mentioned that this could affect the positions of both Burton and Woods. He believes that Woods, as a young prodigy with high expectations, should be given a chance.
“I don’t know if he’s fit to go. Mitch Woods I think they need to pull the trigger and put him in there.”
Stephen Crichton Defends Matt Burton
Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton has come to the defense of his young halfback, reminding everyone of his impressive performance against the Panthers two weeks ago. Crichton emphasized that Burton’s performance that week was class, and the recent dip in form is more a reflection of the team around him.
“The way he played against the Panthers, everyone was probably on his side saying he’s the best halfback that week. Now, two weeks later, he probably hasn’t performed the way he wanted to,” Crichton said.
“That’s a reflection on the boys around him probably not helping him do his job as well. We definitely know that he is our halfback. The way he played against the Panthers is the way halfbacks should be playing.”
Crichton acknowledged that the team hasn’t been supporting Burton enough. He pointed out that the team has reviewed Burton’s performance against the Panthers and believes he is capable of doing it again.
“He’s been playing what he’s been learning at training. He’s been getting criticised a lot lately for the way that our team’s been performing.”
“Ever since he’s come to the club, I’ve always said that if you’re not getting criticised, you’re not doing your job right. I feel like he’ll be learning off this and in a couple of years’ time, or even now, he’s learning these lessons.”
As a 20-year-old, Crichton believes that Burton will become one of the greats. He notes that the lessons he’s taking now are harsh but will help build him into the player he wants to be.
A New Chapter for Galvin
Galvin’s highly publicized move from the Wests Tigers has placed him under constant scrutiny as a highly touted prospect. With arguments emerging that the club needs to change its attacking game, all eyes will be on the Bulldogs when they host the North Queensland Cowboys on Thursday night.
