The move, which sees regular No.7 Toby Sexton drop out of the starting side, has sparked major discussion among Bulldogs fans and the wider NRL community.
Galvin is now set to partner Matt Burton in the halves for Canterbury’s Round 20 clash against the Dragons at Accor Stadium on Saturday night.
Sexton, who has started most games at halfback for the Bulldogs this season, recently signed a two-year deal to join Super League club Catalans Dragons in 2026.
Canterbury Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has revealed that his decision to elevate 20-year-old Lachlan Galvin to the starting halfback role was driven by the club’s need to compete with top NRL sides like the Raiders, Storm, Warriors, and Broncos.
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“Over the last little period we’ve been working really hard on our attack, we’ve been trying to evolve towards the back end of the year and understanding what’s going to beat those top teams, who have got really good defensive systems,’’ Ciraldo told SEN’s Breakfast with Vossy and Brandy on Wednesday. “And we just felt like we weren’t sort of getting there.
“Lachie had been showing some really good signs at training with his natural talent with the ball and with how he can unlock players around him.
“He’s been working really hard. He came up to the coaches box last week, which gave him a really good opportunity to see what we’re seeing. He’s impressed everyone with his work-ethic and ability to learn and while it was a tough decision because we love Toby and he’s done a great job for us — and we’re not giving up on him, but right now Lachie deserves an opportunity," the Bulldogs coach revealed.
Ciraldo acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but said it was one made in the best interest of the team’s long-term direction.
“There’s some really hard times where you see players who have come to your club as young men and grown up in that time,’’ he said.
“And we also have conversations where we’ve got to leave guys out and they’re not the parts you enjoy, but that’s what we get paid for.
“As long as every decision is in the best interests of the team and the club, they’re not that difficult to have.’’
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Ciraldo also addressed the pressure Sexton has faced since Galvin’s much-talked-about arrival at Belmore in May last year.
The coach said that internal competition is essential for the Bulldogs’ development and culture shift.
“Everyone has that pressure,’’ Ciraldo said.
“I remember having that conversation with Jacob Preston at the end of last year when we were bringing Sitili Tupouniua in, you could see the look in his eyes and we knew he was going to rise to that challenge and he’s ended up playing his best footy.
"We’ve got jobs to do and we’ve got a deep squad and that’s the good thing. We’ve been able to put together over the last couple of years is a deep squad and competition for spots," Ciraldo stated.