Why Gus-Galvin ‘madness’ must be stopped; Roosters’ new DCE flight risk — Crawls

It’s a stain on the integrity of the NRL salary cap system that is supposed to make for a fair and level playing field that the best teenage talent Phil Gould says he has ever seen play rugby league can switch mid-season from a battling club to the team on top of the table for around $300,000 a year less than he was offered to stay — and no one blinks an eye.

But there is a simple solution to stop the contract madness that has now allowed Lachie Galvin to walk out on the Wests Tigers to join Gould’s Bulldogs.

In the future, don’t allow it.

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Make players stick to the contracts they signed. Makes clubs do the same.

After all, the NRL runs the game.

Not the player agents. Not the clubs.

So why doesn’t the governing body do what they should have done years ago and introduce a system that makes both parties stick to a deal, at least until the end of the season.

It is just so unfair on fans to have all this constant upheaval going on during the season.

And it makes a mockery of the salary cap that Galvin is now ready to accept a deal worth considerably less than the $1 million-plus-a-season he was previously offered to stay at the Tigers so he can sign for a reported $700,000 at the Dogs.

But the fact in the background there has been a clear agitation from Galvin and his agent Isaac Moses all along to get Galvin out early only makes it harder to swallow.

From the moment the bullying accusations surfaced along with the storyline Galvin didn’t rate Benji Marshall, we always knew where this would end regardless of Shane Richardson’s previous declaration that the Tigers wouldn’t buckle to the pressure.

I wrote last week that I totally understand why Richo changed his tune because the club couldn’t afford for this to drag on and potentially lead to that much unrest that it would ruin the Tigers hopes of playing finals football this year.

And while no one is suggesting the Bulldogs have done anything untoward in all this, isn’t it amazing how the Bulldogs have suddenly won the race for Galvin’s signature, despite all Gould’s previous denials.

You’ve got to hand it to Gus, he sure played everyone off the break on this one.

How did we possibly not see this coming since the moment Gould started waxing lyrical about Galvin’s talent last August.

Oh, that’s right, because Gus constantly told us the Dogs weren’t interested in signing Galvin at this point of his career.

Now apparently the “goalposts” have moved since Galvin was granted permission to leave immediately.

You can only shake your head.

But surely the governing body has a responsibility not least of all to the fans to make this their line in the sand moment — and put rules in place that make all parties put the integrity of the competition ahead of personal gain.

At least if the NRL made clubs stick to the 30-man roster for the duration of the season it wouldn’t distract from the competition like it has done pretty much from the get-go this year.

Of course, there are always extenuating circumstances that can emerge either from personal issues or injuries.

But if the bar is set high to start with, clubs and player agents would be less inclined to try and bend/break the rules for their own benefit, or financial gain.

You’d be a fool to think it would stop the shenanigans post-season, but at least you could deal with that out of competition during a trade period.

As it stands it just leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouths.

WILL GALVIN MAKE OR BREAK DOGS’ PREMIERSHIP HOPES?

Now to what Galvin’s switch will mean to the Bulldogs on the field.

Understandably, even loyal Dogs fans are divided over whether Gavlin will make or break the Bulldogs hopes of winning this year’s premiership.

On the surface, it is difficult the grasp exactly where Galvin will fit into the current side without causing some disharmony.

There is talk Matt Burton could move to fullback that would cost Connor Tracey his spot, while it would make just as much sense to play Stephen Crichton at No 1 and move Burton to the centres where he also starred for Penrith previously.

There is some suggestion Galvin could also play halfback instead of Toby Sexton, although he’s never played that chief playmaking role.

It would make most sense to keep him in his customary five-eighth position and move the jigsaw pieces around him.

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We’ve all doubted the Bulldogs’ recruitment strategy previously and ended up with egg on our faces, so I won’t be doing it this time.

But make no mistake, this is a huge gamble that could still create unrest in a Bulldogs squad that leads the competition after 12 rounds.

The other player who is constantly being linked to other clubs is hooker Read Mahoney, with talk that young Bailey Hayward could end up at No 9 sooner rather than later with Mahoney on the outer.

Galvin could also play lock, but you’d think at this stage of his physical development that would be the toughest move.

But until the Bulldogs run out for their next game, ironically against the Eels after the bye, we will all be guessing what Ciraldo’s next move will be.

DCE COULD PUSH ROOSTERS YOUNG GUN TO PERTH

The pending arrival of the Perth Bears creates an even bigger threat to the Sydney Roosters’ hopes of keeping young gun Hugo Savala, who is free to negotiate with rival clubs come November 1 for the 2027 NRL season.

With Daly Cherry-Evans considered a certainty to join the Chooks next season, Trent Robinson did his best to sidestep questions about what that could mean to Savala and Sandon Smith in the wake of the Roosters’ thumping 42-16 win over the Sharks.

It’s fair enough for Robbo to want to focus on the moment after such a brave win (with so many players missing against a near full-strength Sharks team).

But surely the Roosters can’t expect Savala and Smith to put their futures on hold so Cherry-Evans can be parachuted in over the top of them to try and win a premiership.

There is already talk Smith will be out the door at the end of the season after previously knocking back a two-year offer worth in the vicinity of $400,000-a-season.

But losing Savala would be an even bigger blow given the potential he has shown since coming into the starting team.

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A Coogee Wombats junior in the South Sydney catchment, Savala has been part of the Roosters’ system going back to Harold Matthews and SG Ball.

It just seems crazy that the Roosters would run the risk of losing him at this stage of his development to bring in a player who turns 37 in February.

Especially when you factor in 23-year-old Savala is currently on a development deal worth about $85,000 for this year and next.

But the Roosters would have to be paying DCE more than $700,000-a-season.

There would be a hell of a blow up from rival clubs if the NRL registered Cherry-Evans’ contract for anything less given that was the offer from Manly to keep their captain for next two years ($1.4m in total).

There’s been talk previously from Savala’s manager Steve Gillis about the young half being potentially part of a swap deal like what the Storm did with Harry Grant a few years ago.

Although the more NRL experience Savala gets would have to have him questioning if he wants to wait another year, especially given the Roosters’ tendency to always go out and buy the next best talent that comes on the market.

Don’t forget the Roosters also have the gifted Toby Rodwell who played NSW Cup on the weekend only weeks after starring in the SG Ball premiership victory, who they reckon will be NRL ready within 18 months.

RICKY’S RAIDERS RESPOND TO BULLDOGS FADE OUT

That was a hell of a win from the Raiders over the Warriors in the top four shootout in Auckland to jump to second spot on the ladder.

In a really tough contest in the wet, Ricky Stuart had the Raiders fired up and didn’t they respond to the criticism they copped after their second half fade out against the Bulldogs a few weeks back.

Even though they had a few brain snaps along the way, that’s the type of defence you’d expect from a genuine premiership contender.

It sets up a great showdown against the in-form Roosters next Sunday at Allianz.

KNIGHTS SHOW THEY CAN SCORE POINTS, EVEN WITHOUT PONGA

Where have the Newcastle Knights been hiding that attacking performance?

Admittedly the Panthers were without all their big guns with Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Dylan Edwards and Brian To’o all on NSW Origin duties, while Luke Garner and Isaiah Papali’i were also injured.

But as Adam O’Brien rightfully pointed out after the Knights’ 25-6 win, his team was also down with Kalyn Ponga in Queensland camp, while Bradman Best, Leo Thompson, Jacob Saifiti and Greg Marzhew were all missing.

That didn’t stop them turning on arguably their best performance of the season with Fletcher Sharpe outstanding filling in at fullback, while young backrower Dylan Lucas once again showed what a player he is to finish with his first career hat-trick.

Now the Knights just need to back it up against the Dragons on Friday night at Kogarah when, fingers crossed, Ponga returns.

FITZY HAD A RIGHT TO BE FILTHY AT SHARKS

No wonder Craig Fitzgibbon was so short with his post-match media conference after going down to the Roosters.

Fitzy had every right to be filthy.

How do the Sharks go from beating the Storm last round to getting towelled up by an under-strength Roosters, especially when a top four spot was on the line?

No wonder the jury is still out on whether they are genuine title contenders this year.

No question they have the talent, but at the halfway point of the season mental toughness is still the big question that hangs over the Sharks.

DOLPHINS FINALLY GET THE RUB OF THE GREEN

You can make all the excuses in the world for the Bulldogs going down 44-8 to the Dolphins.

But don’t underestimate the job Kristian Woolf is doing backing up from Wayne Bennett.

While the Dolphins have copped some really horrible calls in recent weeks, they had a few go their way here.

Still, they were up for this contest taking on the ladder leaders.

And remember they had a few better than handy players absent as well in the form of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tom Gilbert and Jeremy Marshall-King.

But two players who typified the spirit the Dolphins are playing with was young utility Kurt Donoghoe and Herbie Farnworth.

Donoghoe showed incredible toughness to return after suffering a badly broken nose in the opening minutes before being rewarded with a late try.

While Farnworth checked himself out of hospital on the day of the game and had to make his way to Sydney after recovering from a nasty leg infection.

There is a lot to like about the development of the Dolphins under Woolf, especially young half Isaiya Kato who just gets better by the week.

Katoa’s ability to change the tempo of the game is phenomenal for a 21-year-old playmaker.

GUTHERSON V IONGI BATTLE FOR BUY OF THE YEAR

We’ve mentioned in recent weeks how the Eels are showing signs of improvement under Jason Ryles.

But the 30-10 win over Manly took it to the next level.

Without Mitchell Moses, former Rabbitoh Dean Hawkins really stepped up, while young fullback Isaiah Iongi looks the real deal.

While I’d maintain Clint Gutherson has been the buy of the year for the Dragons, Iongi is showing so much potential that maybe Ryles will be proven to have pulled the right rein looking to the future.

PRESSURE MOUNTS AT MANLY

Manly life member Peter Peters certainly didn’t miss on Sunday’s Big Sports Breakfast when he declared the pack that ran out against Parramatta was the worst he’s seen in his 54-year association with the club.

And it’s a legitimate question to ask what is going on with their roster under the guidance of Anthony Seibold who is now halfway through his third year at the club.

As Peters said: “Some of the scouting there to bring reserve grade players, veteran players to the club that aren’t firing is beyond me.

“I think the coach and recruitment manager and maybe the CEO have got a lot of questions to answer.”

I wrote recently that while DCE’s pending departure has been used as an excuse for the Sea Eagles’ disappointing form this year, Seibold needs to own his share of the blame given he’s now had ample time to make his presence felt and there are still no clear signs of any improvement.

What they dished up on the weekend just confirmed that.

They have now lost five of their last seven games ahead of their clash with the equally desperate Broncos this Saturday at Brookvale.