Tigers’ private Galvin suspicion; inside power play that could oust Seibold — Hoops

The Wests Tigers privately suspect Lachlan Galvin was cosying up with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs long before the NRL rookie dropped a mid-season bombshell on the club’s Concord headquarters.

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Galvin’s ugly Wests Tigers exit was two months to the day on Wednesday.

On Sunday the newly-minted Bulldogs halfback will face the club he turned his back on amid legal action, bullying allegations and a list of grievances aimed at Benji Marshall’s coaching.

Who could forget the “you do you and I’ll do me” explanation to the Wests Tigers playing group 24 hours after fuming Tigers players turned on Galvin with social media posts.

The latest brutal example of a Wests Tigers local junior considered a generational talent now gone to a far superior club who look destined to be competing for premierships.

It’s an all-too-familiar tune for the Wests Tigers legion of fans.

Mitch Moses to the Parramatta Eels, James Tedesco to the Sydney Roosters and now Lachlan Galvin to Canterbury-Bankstown.

Wests Tigers players are adamant there’s no bad blood ahead of Sunday’s showdown at CommBank Stadium.

Puh-lease. No one’s buying the campfire, kumbaya version of events given the reams of headlines generated by Galvin’s departure.

One of the best elements of Sunday’s showdown will be Galvin lining-up opposite Wests Tigers marquee man Jarome Luai.

There’s no question Luai’s arrival, dominant personality and leadership at Wests Tigers was unsettling for one-time golden boy Galvin.

'Worth the price tag?': Luai debate | 04:40

Even though Luai agreed to wear the no.7 jumper and alter his style of game to suit Galvin the young gun remained unsettled.

Now with Luai stationed on the Wets Tigers left and Galvin on Canterbury-Bankstown’s right the arch-enemies go head-to-head.

The Wests Tigers have pushed all-in on Luai as the playmaker to steer the club away from three straight wooden spoons.

In the process of backing senior players Luai and co-captain Api Koroisau it’s cost the club local juniors Galvin and Tallyn Da Silva.

There’s no questioning the professionalism of Luai or Koroisau but the Tigers are still yet to flip the script in terms of results.

A win against the Bulldogs on Sunday would rank among the Tigers greatest upsets of the past 14 seasons.

That’s how long it is since the Wests Tigers last played finals football.

INSIDE THE POWER PLAY TO OVERTHROW SEIBOLD

For decades the Fulton family and Des Hasler ruled the Manly Sea Eagles with an iron fist.

Premierships were a common theme with the Sea Eagles winning titles in 1987, 1996, 2008 and 2011.

Since Bozo’s passing and Des was axed in a messy exit, the factional infighting has remained a constant theme as various elements of the club battle for control.

The latest push at the Sea Eagles being run by a group of well-connected players who’ve won premierships for Manly was to try and get coach Anthony Seibold overthrown in favour of Matt Ballin.

The way we’ve heard it some of the Sea Eagles current players were also across the move.

In fairness to Seibold it’s a brutal play given he’s currently got Manly sitting ninth on the NRL ladder with nine wins, nine losses and a positive differential.

Legends agenda - Will Seibs survive? | 02:18

Six weeks ago after the seven-minute speed dating mid-year player reviews the Sea Eagles coach supposedly had two games to save his job.

Manly has since won three out of their past four matches including beating premiership favourites Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park – widely-regarded as the NRL’s toughest road trip.

Yet still the noise around Seibold persists after Canterbury-Bankstown carved the Sea Eagles up 42-4 last Sunday.

Player unrest is a constant theme and the push to try and get two-time premiership-winning hooker Ballin installed perpetuates the narrative.

The Ballin move has been parked for now but there’s no question some of the Sea Eagles current playing group have voiced their views on Seibold’s shortcomings as a coach.

Seibold’s long-term future at Manly will be results driven which is why Super Saturday’s showdown against the Sydney Roosters is critical.

With Manly still right in contention for a top eight finish the only way to silence the internal politics and the noise is to win games.

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