NRL 2025 live: Galvin sets up first Tigers try in showdown with Sharks at Leichhardt Oval​on April 27, 2025 at 6:25 am

The Sharks are struggling to get fluency in attack.

Hynes gives a ball to his halves partner Braydon Trindall but the Sharks No.6 coughs up the footy inside the Tigers’ 10-metre zone.

Galvin is very much getting into the game. His passes are hitting blokes’ chests. He and Luai are managing to control the tempo. Mick Ennis reckons Cronulla are already looking a little fatigued.

Tigers lead Sharks 4-0 after 16 minutes

Bang. There it is. The Tigers are back!

Koroisau gives it to Luai out of dummy half. Luai then throws a neat lpass to Galvin, who gets a wonderful offload to put Samuela Fainu over the line. Clever play for the opening try of the match.

Talk about the pressure being relieved.

Galvin celebrates with teammates and even gives Luai a hi-five. The pair look to be on reasonable terms and the home crowd have absolutely loved that four-pointer. The conversion from Doueihi misses.

Tigers lead 4-0 after 11 minutes

Both teams’ forwards are charging in off the back fence. Completing their sets in the early exchanges of this match.

The Sharks get right into Tigers territory but a poor fifth tackle kick option from Nicho Hynes lets the home side off the hook.

0-0 after eight minutes.

Giddy up. Let’s go.

It’s a packed crowd at Leichhardt Oval. The hill looks absolutely buzzing.

Lachlan Galvin takes the kick-off cleanly. A diving effort to get him into the game.

The Raiders looked down and out at half-time against the Dolphins, trailing 28-10.

They’ve just won 40-28. Coach Ricky Stuart is stoked.

Five tries to zero in the second half. That is some performance. Here are the players who crossed the paint.

• 9th minute – Savelio Tamale (Raiders)

• 13th minute – Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)

• 19th minute – Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)

• 26th minute – Daniel Saifiti (Dolphins)

• 30th minute – Kaeo Weekes (Raiders)

• 34th minute – Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins)

• 39th minute – Jake Averillo (Dolphins)

• 49th minute – Zac Hosking (Raiders)

• 60th minute – Ethan Strange (Raiders)

• 65th minute – Matty Nicholson (Raiders)

• 71st minute – Sebastian Kris (Raiders)

• 78th minute – Jamal Fogarty (Raiders)

The slightest hint of boos as Lachie Galvin ran out to warm up here at a dry but packed Leichhardt Oval.

The Tigers DJ took an opportune moment to blast some inane tune, but there were enough cheers for the 19-year-old and his teammates that he didn’t need to.

Otherwise, kid looks like he doesn’t have a care in the world, certainly not a beef with his teammates.

Here’s a little recap for those who aren’t across why Lachlan Galvin’s return to the Tigers’ top team today is such a big deal.

Massive deal rejected: Galvin, the Tigers’ teenage sensation, turned down a $6 million extension from the Wests Tigers. It then emerged Galvin believed he couldn’t further his development under coach Benji Marshall.

Social media blows up: Some teammates, including new Tigers recruit Jarome Luai, appeared to take thinly veiled shots at Galvin on social media, sparking widespread backlash.

Demoted to reserve grade: Galvin was swiftly dropped to the NSW Cup, playing for Western Suburbs Magpies.

Benji fights back: Marshall defended Galvin publicly, calling for critics to back off and reaffirming his support for the young playmaker, despite leaving him out of the first grade team.

Legal threats emerge: Galvin’s management issued a legal letter to the Tigers, accusing the club of bullying and failing to provide a safe working environment.

First-grade recall: After a bad loss to Parramatta, Marshall recalled Galvin to first grade ahead of their clash with Cronulla.

Rival clubs interested: The Parramatta Eels have shown serious interest in Galvin, one of the most sought-after young players in the game. However, Tigers boss Shane Richardson says the club won’t be releasing before his deal ends at the end of 2026.

Push for mediation: Galvin’s camp has requested urgent mediation with the Tigers as both sides look for a way to settle the messy dispute.

Watching an NRL game at Leichhardt Oval is one of life’s special treats … providing it’s not raining cats and dogs.

So for the sake of the crowd, let’s hope that Mother Nature cuts them some slack. It’s a big game for both teams.

Obviously, the reinstatement of Lachlan Galvin to the Tigers starting line-up has been a huge talking point, and it will be intriguing to see what sort of reception he cops from the fans. It’s certainly a lot of pressure on a 19-year-old’s shoulders.

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has refused to justify his decision to recall Lachlan Galvin a week after dropping him, declaring: “Why would I care what people say?”

Galvin, who is back in the first-grade fold for Sunday’s clash with the Sharks, was dropped to feeder team Western Suburbs Magpies in the previous round after turning down a contract extension.

Four of his teammates fronted the media on Friday to declare there was no tension in the camp, despite Galvin’s minders serving the club with a legal letter claiming he had been bullied. The interplay between the 19-year-old and his senior teammates – Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva made social media posts seemingly critical of his actions – will make for fascinating viewing at the club’s first game of the year at Leichhardt.

Not that Marshall was buying into it during his pre-game press conference on Saturday morning. The former Kiwi international tried to deflect a series of questions about Galvin’s return.

“I’m sick of talking about that,” Marshall said. “I said it every week … I’ll pick the team that I think’s best. So we’ve moved on. Focusing on the game this week. We’ve just got to get the win.”

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