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The tattoos that keep Wests Tigers teen playmaker aspiring for greatness
Jasper Bruce, AAP • January 18th, 2025 3:44 pm
Photo: Bianca De Marchi/AAP
Lachlan Galvin won't need to look far for inspiration to rally the Wests Tigers up the ladder after three consecutive wooden spoons - just to his right arm.
The highly-prized five-eighth will enter his second NRL season with two fresh tattoos that each allude to a different corner of his footballing journey.
The words "make it happen" now stretch across the 19-year-old's right bicep, referencing a mantra shared with close mates and aspiring NRL players Sosefo Finau and Jeremiah Leatigaga.
Finau is in the junior system at Canterbury, with Leatigaga on the books at the Tigers through the Western Suburbs Magpies.
Both played alongside Galvin as school kids at Westfield Sports High, Finau in the 2023 National Schoolboy Cup triumph over rugby league nursery Palm Beach Currumbin.
"We've known each other since we were 13 or 14 and we've always had this group chat named 'Make It Happen'," Galvin told AAP.
'Make it happen' means something special to Lachlan Galvin, stretching back to his junior days | Photo: Jasper Bruce
"I've made my debut in the NRL and them in the future. I think they can make their NRL debuts in the future. We've just always said that you've always got to make it happen."
Galvin's second tattoo on his forearm reads "I.N.F.E" - short for "It's not for everyone", a favourite saying of his coach at Westfield Sports, Luke Vella.
"You get into the NRL now and it's really not (for everyone). You've got to work hard, it's so much dedication. There's so much you've got to sacrifice," Galvin said.
Vella remains a steady presence in Galvin's life and will catch up with the Tigers five-eighth for lunch every few weeks.
His own playing career at the Bulldogs was cut short by a horrific nerve injury suffered while making a tackle as a 20-year-old, but Vella has since progressed through the club's coaching ranks.
He joined Cameron Ciraldo's NRL staff ahead of the club's resurgent 2024 season.
"He's probably in the top three reasons I'm playing in the NRL," Galvin said.
"What he's done for my footy and how much he helped me and how much he guided me through school and that. He was massive for me.
"I thought I'd get them (the tattoos) on me and remind me of the people that have helped me and my two best mates."
I.N.F.E reminds Lachlan Galvin that the sacrifices in rugby league are not for everyone | Photo: Jasper Bruce
The two catchphrases appear pertinent for a Tigers side that has lured multi-premiership winning Panthers players Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva in the hopes of avoiding a fourth consecutive last-placed finish.
No team has won as many wooden spoons in a row since Parramatta collected six between 1956 and 1961.
"We can't have another bad year," Galvin said.
"We've been working hard and we've got the superstar players that we've bought. We just have to (do better). We can't have another year coming last."
"We've had three wooden spoons. We need to make it happen and I think we can."
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