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Fletch: The tough Galvin call the Bulldogs must make
Sam Kosack • July 8th, 2025 8:00 am
SEN’s Bryan Fletcher has called on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to make a tough decision around the role of prized mid-season signing Lachlan Galvin.
Since debuting for the Bulldogs in Round 14, Galvin has started two in the halves alongside Toby Sexton, and two from the interchange, raising questions around his use at different stages of the game.
When starting from the interchange against the Eels and Panthers, Galvin went on for Reed Mahoney, slotting into the halves with Toby Sexton shifting to hooker.
However, with the presence of utilities Bailey Hayward and Kurt Mann already in the side, and Mahoney’s importance to the Bulldogs’ defence, uncertainty has emerged around how Galvin and Sexton can co-exist in the side.
Fletcher believes the Bulldogs’ coaching staff will need to make a tough decision this week to ensure the club avoid a third-straight loss.
“You can't have Galvin and Bailey Hayward on the bench together,” Fletcher said on SEN 1170 Drive.
“It’s got to be a hard call… and I’m not blaming Galvin for the form that they’ve been in but it feels to me that they’re just putting Galvin on because he’s there.
“They learned from the previous week against Penrith leaving Reed Mahoney on. Reed Mahoney’s been brilliant in the last four weeks.
“Defensively putting pressure on, that’s something that neither Sexton, Bailey (Hayward), or Galvin can do because when you’re a hooker it is a hard position to play.”
“It wasn't their attacking ability, or lack of ability, that cost them that game on the weekend. It was the game management and their defence.”
Sexton and Mahoney have both already found new clubs for next season, with Sexton agreeing to join the Catalans Dragons, while Mahoney will move to the North Queensland Cowboys on a three-year deal, further raising the question of should the Bulldogs continue with what has worked this season or look to the future.
SEN’s Joel Caine believes Mahoney’s experience in big games will prove invaluable for the Bulldogs’ finals charge, and that coach Cameron Ciraldo must make a call to play only one of Galvin or Sexton in their side.
“The other thing that needs to be considered… Toby Sexton, Galvin, Bailey Hayward, and Reed Mahoney, of those four, Reed Mahoney has been in an Origin camp.
“He's also been on a grand final run. He’s experienced that when they got to the grand final.
“The question I'd be asking… can you win the comp with Sexton?
“Or if you stay with Sexton and Galvin becomes this great player, do you regret down the track that you didn't pull the trigger and just give Lachy Galvin 10-12 weeks to get it done?
“Bailey Hayward’s doing a great job in the 14, Reed Mahoney’s doing a job in the nine. You kind of just have to make a call in the seven.”
The Bulldogs take on the North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday.
