‘It annoyed me’: Lachlan Galvin addresses contract speculation as the Tigers rookie confirms his future plans

Wests Tigers rookie Lachlan Galvin says the ongoing speculation about his future “annoyed me a bit”, with the rookie five-eighth declaring he will be at the club next year despite suggestions his management has been pushing for a release.

The local junior has been a shining light at five-eighth this season and is poised to play alongside Jarome Luai next year, but his future beyond that is up in the air.

Galvin, 19, still has two more years to run on his deal, but there have been reports that his management requested a release several times in the pre-season and then again during the year because they were worried that he wouldn’t develop at the Tigers.

It’s a lot for the teenager to deal with, but he has assured Tigers fans that he isn’t going anywhere for now.

“It wasn’t stressful, but it annoyed me a bit just how much talk there was,” Galvin said.

“I tried to stay away from that. I play rugby league because I love it, so I didn’t let that get to me because I just wanted to train and play each week.

“It was a little bit stressful, but I tried to keep that outside noise out.

“I’m really happy. I’ll be here next year, and I can’t wait.

“I want to succeed for (our fans) because they’re really good to us by coming to our home games. Even though the results haven’t gone our way, they’re there each week and that’s why we’re working hard each week to try get the results for them.”

Panel shows have spent plenty of hours mulling over where Galvin might be in the coming years, but he has done his best to shut out the noise.

“I just try to keep away from that. I don’t really pay attention to that,” he said.

“I just love playing rugby league, so I don’t get into that stuff. I just get into my training and have fun playing each week.

“I’m probably the most boring kid here. I just go home and watch every game each week. I live and breathe it, and that’s how I was at school.”

Tigers skipper Api Koroisau has been impressed by Galvin’s consistency given so many young stars burn out after a couple of good games.

“NRL is such a hard game, and the first year in, your body starts breaking down and you hit a wall,” he said.

“But he keeps turning up week after week and he’s showing that quality that he has.”

While Galvin idolises Melbourne’s Cameron Munster, Koroisau grew up watching Benji Marshall tear it up, which is why he’s so proud of his coach for being inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame in a rare bright spot for the struggling club.

“He was doing things that no one had ever done before,” he said.

“It’s a huge award to receive, and for him to bring that to the club after what the club has gone through, it’s a good bit of positivity for us.

“There haven’t been many positives throughout the year, so for Benji to bring the club into the spotlight is special.”