Bulldogs Skipper Stephen Crichton Defends Lachie Galvin Amid Criticism
Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton has come to the defense of young star Lachie Galvin following criticism from league legend Andrew Johns, who questioned whether Galvin is a traditional halfback. The discussion around Galvin’s role has intensified after the Bulldogs suffered another loss in Round 8, falling to the Broncos despite being down to 12 men. This follows their unexpected defeat to Parramatta in the previous week, raising concerns about the team’s performance.
Galvin and five-eighth Matt Burton were the only players to score tries in the 32-12 loss, but the Bulldogs struggled to find consistency in attack. Their inability to generate momentum has left them with the fewest points scored in the NRL this season, trailing only the winless Dragons.
Andrew Johns, a revered figure in the rugby league, criticized coach Cameron Ciraldo for sticking with Galvin and Burton in the halves. He argued that both players are similar in style and suggested that the team needs a more traditional No.7 to take control of games.
“I think Matt Burton is an out-and-out five-eighth. He’s a running five-eighth. If you’re going to have a big running five-eighth, you need an on-ball halfback who does everything,” Johns said on Nine’s The Sunday Footy Show. “We know Lachie Galvin is there, he’s building his game. I see him more as a long-term five-eighth. He wants the ball, but he’s still gotta understand his game.”
Johns also pointed out the lack of creativity in Canterbury’s attacking play and suggested that emerging talent Mitch Woods could be a potential solution at No.7. “There’s no run straight out of dummy-half. They had Jake Turpin… but he’s a distributor. Bailey Hayward’s as tough as they come, but he’s a distributor, so there’s no run threat,” he added. “And Galvin, I don’t think he’s a halfback, so the question is Mitch Woods, where he comes into it.”
Crichton Stands by Galvin’s Ability
Despite the criticism, Crichton has defended Galvin, pointing to the Bulldogs’ impressive upset win over Penrith in Round 6 as evidence of Galvin’s capabilities. In that match, Galvin played what many considered his best game in Bulldogs colors, earning praise from fans and teammates alike.
“The way he played against the Panthers, everyone was on his side, saying he was the best halfback that week,” Crichton said. “Now, two weeks later, he probably hasn’t performed the way he would’ve wanted to and that’s a reflection of the boys around him not helping him do his job. We definitely know that he is our halfback, and the way he played against the Panthers is the way a halfback should be playing.”
The Bulldogs have worked hard to shield Galvin from much of the negative attention surrounding his role, a challenge that Crichton described as “pretty harsh.” He expressed empathy for Galvin, noting that the 20-year-old is learning from the experience.
“I feel for Lachie. He has been getting criticised a lot lately for the way that our team has been performing and ever since he’s come to the club… He’ll be learning from this. He’s learning these lessons as a young 20-year-old, and he’s going to become a player – like one of the greats – sooner or later. I feel like all the lessons that he’s taking right now are pretty harsh, but it’s going to build him up to be the player that he wants to be.”
