Young gun Lachlan Galvin is soaking up every moment of a 'surreal' call-up to the Prime Minister’s XIII side but he already has one eye clearly on 2025 and the arrival at Wests Tigers of superstar Jarome Luai.
It has been a whirlwind year for 19-year-old Galvin who made his NRL debut in Round 2, with his selection in the representative side a fitting reward for an impressive rookie season.
“It's quite surreal to be honest, I never would have thought after playing [Australian] Schoolboys last year that I'd be back here playing in the Prime Minister’s,” Galvin said.
“It's amazing really. I never thought I would debut this year in the NRL, so putting on the green and gold in the Prime Minister’s, it's a dream come true.
“The year has been amazing. It's went so quick. I had a few weeks off after the NRL season and got to think about it a bit, but it's been crazy and I've loved every minute of it.”
The gifted No.6 is relishing the opportunity to be mentored by one of the game's greatest playmakers, PM's XIII coach Brad Fittler, soaking up all the knowledge he can ahead of a huge off-season back at Wests Tigers as they start the long climb off the bottom.
Much will hinge on how four-time premiership winner Luai adapts to his new surroundings and how he combines with Galvin, who produced a rookie season to savour in 2024.
“I think Jarome will be massive, as we've seen in the grand final, he's a quality player and he can lead the team around,” Galvin said.
“I think he's going to probably change our whole culture at the Tigers and he's going to be massive for us.
“I think (his energy) is going to help us so much, I think that's what we need at the Tigers.
“Our culture probably has to change a bit and a quality player like him and [Sunia] Turuva who are winners, it's going to be massive for us.
“I think that's probably a big part of why we got him too, we know he's a quality player, but his culture and how good he is around the boys, it’s going to be huge.
“I think we're on the up ... (next year) I want to fully focus on the Tigers and Jarome will be a massive part of that, too.”
Fittler said a player of Luai’s calibre would only help bring out the best in Galvin.
“I think Jarome, what he'll do – and I'm sure Lachy’s standards are high already and he just seems to have that way about it – so what I think what Jarome will do, he'll make sure the standards from everyone are high,” Fittler said.
Galvin on Luai's 2025 arrival and that kick Joey loved
“I have no doubt that they'll win more games while Jarome there, he'll just pick the standard up across the club.
“He’ll help the coach out and I think that'll make a huge difference.
“It's so important, you talk about nurseries, the Campbelltown area, you still have the inner city area of Balmain and Leichhardt, but the nursery of Campbelltown is very important to rugby league.
“That's something in their last game, they got beat by 60, but they had a full crowd, so the people are turning up.
“They need now to win and I think Jarome, he can turn that fortune around.”
Match: PNG PM XIII v AUS PM XIII
Round 2 -
home Team
PNG PM XIII
away Team
AUS PM XIII
Venue: Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
