Manly head coach Anthony Seibold addressed the media on Wednesday following the developments surrounding Lachlan Galvin.
Despite speculation, the Manly Sea Eagles have reportedly ruled out pursuing young gun Lachlan Galvin for 2027. This is notable given the teenager shares an agent, Isaac Moses, with Seibold—an agent who maintains strong links with the club. However, the Parramatta Eels are now seen as the frontrunners to sign Galvin, whose uncertain future at Wests Tigers has sparked major headlines.
Galvin is expected to leave the Tigers at the end of the 2025 season, and tensions grew after coach Benji Marshall made the bold call to drop him for this weekend’s clash with the Eels. The decision has caused division within the NRL community, with critics arguing that Galvin should still be picked regardless of his contract status.
Buzz Rothfield reported that senior Tigers players Api Koroisau and Jarome Luai confronted Marshall after the news broke. Galvin is now set to feature in the NSW Cup this weekend, and his short-term NRL future remains unclear.
The Tigers have stated they won’t be releasing Galvin from his contract early, meaning he will remain with the club through 2025. Still, many question the practicality of Galvin playing NSW Cup for another 18 months. Both Matty Johns and David Riccio have expressed confusion over the decision to bench a player performing at such a high level.
With Galvin’s looming departure, a number of NRL clubs have been linked to him, including Manly. Given Seibold and Galvin share an agent, many speculated Manly would make a move, especially with veteran Daly Cherry-Evans retiring in 2026. However, Channel 9’s Zac Bailey said Seibold has ruled out any pursuit of the Wests Tigers playmaker.
“We asked Seibold directly during his press conference if Manly was interested in Galvin. He shut it down. The club won’t be chasing Lachie Galvin,” Bailey told SEN Radio.
Instead, Manly is focused on nurturing young half Joey Walsh, whom Seibold sees as the club’s long-term halfback. They remain satisfied with Luke Brooks at five-eighth, though Cherry-Evans’ impending exit leaves a void at halfback.
Galvin now linked with Eels move
With Manly seemingly stepping aside, AAP reports the Parramatta Eels are preparing to make a strong play for Galvin after his contract expires. Despite Seibold’s remarks, both Manly and Canterbury are said to still be in the conversation.
Parramatta will have both the cap space and an opening at five-eighth following Dylan Brown’s departure at season’s end. Offloading forwards Ryan Matterson and Joe Ofahengaue—who are both off-contract—could create further financial flexibility.
Galvin, who played junior footy for Western Suburbs, actually began his representative journey with the Eels in the Harold Matthews Cup, making a potential return to Parramatta something of a homecoming. Still, there’s no sign yet that the Tigers will release him before his contract ends.
