Tigers young gun Lachlan Galvin is facing a suspension after he was sin-binned for a hip drop tackle on Eels forward Kelma Tuilagi during their Easter Monday clash.
The Tigers held on 17-16 in a seesawing thriller, but Galvin may not be there next week, despite again putting in a starring display.
The incident 10 minutes into the second half saw a captain’s challenge result in the tackle from Galvin being picked up and the Tigers young gun was placed on report and sent for a 10 minute spell.
“We see Kelma Tuilagi clutching at his left ankle,” Michael Ennis said on Fox League.
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“Is that a hip drop from Galvin?
“Boy that is an ugly one.”
The potential suspension is even tougher to take given Galvin inspired the Tigers in a brilliant display to finish with two try assists including one for Jahream Bula to put the Tigers up by two with 10 minutes to play.
The Bunker ruled a clear hip drop tackle from Galvin on Tuilagi.
“Lachlan Galvin produces a hip drop here prior to the challenge,” the Bunker said.
“Parramatta will keep their challenge and we will be having a penalty to the Eels.
Galvin was visibly distressed as the magnitude of the situation hit home.
“The 18-year-old realises the gravity of the situation,” Warren Smith said.
“He will have an issue beyond full-time today.”
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“Yeah poor bugger, I don’t think he has meant to do that,” Ennis said.
“He was just trying to bring Kelma Tuilagi to the ground and unfortunately it is all the indicators of a hip drop.
“We saw it with Max Plath and Galvin is gone to the bin.
“Such a shame it really is.
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“Good to see Tuilagi able to run and leave the field but that is just all the indicators there unfortunately for Galvin.
“As much as we have loved the opening three weeks we see his feet come off the ground for that period of time and he lands on the back of the ankle there of Tuilagi.
“For 10 minutes now the Tigers are without their young star.”
Galvin was typically humble when interviewed after the game.
“It was great the boys really dig in until the end,” Galvin said on Fox League.
“We put in a full 80 minute performance in and I loved it.
“I was just backing my natural instincts. The boys got me forward and I just saw an opportunity to run and Bula like he always does backed up on the inside and scored a try under the posts so it was amazing.”
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The result was special given it was against the team he supported as a youngster.
“I didn’t think about that this week, I did grow up going for Parramatta but it is just another game and I just wanted to go out there and play my style of footy and I thought I did that today and all the boys came together and it was a great win,” Galvin said.
Galvin singled out coach Benji Marshall for special praise.
“Like he says all the time, just play what you see in front of you and if you see it take it,” Galvin said of Marshall.
“That’s what I did today again and he has been so good for me the last three weeks and made me so confident and I love playing for him.”
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