Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould has reportedly addressed the club’s playing group, hoping to silence the noise surrounding Lachlan Galvin’s arrival at Belmore.
According to Code Sports, Gould delivered an impromptu speech to players on Wednesday, hoping to assist Cameron Ciraldo in keeping his squad on track.
Galvin’s arrival at the Bulldogs created a wave of discussion, with the futures of halfback Toby Sexton and hooker Reed Mahoney under the microscope.
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In Round 14, Galvin featured off the bench and was injected into the action in the halves, which saw Sexton shift to hooker and Mahoney come off the field.
Mahoney was clearly frustrated in the dressing rooms after being pulled off, with his agent opening up about the gun No.9’s contract situation.
The 27-year-old has reportedly been on the outer, with reports surfacing he had been given permission to negotiate with rivals regarding an immediate switch.
However, his manager Sam Ayoub made it clear that he had sat down with Canterbury powerbrokers to discuss Mahoney’s future.
In that meeting, the Bulldogs reportedly outlined as it stands they can’t hand the hooker a long-term deal.
Ayoub was of the belief suggestions Mahoney was on the outer “couldn’t be further from the truth”.
“He made 32 tackles in 40 minutes in the first half. He had worked himself to a standstill. He is not on the outer,” Ayoub said to News Corp.
“I went to the club and asked them what they were thinking with Reed after next season.
They said they weren’t sure yet and I asked them whether I could quietly look around.
“They said yes but also made it clear that they were happy for him to stay next season.
“It was all done in good faith and goodwill and has always been in the best interests of the player. Gus (Bulldogs head of football Phil Gould) has always been good like that.”
Meanwhile, Gould moved quickly to ensure no cracks emerged in the Bulldogs’ bid for a premiership.
He reportedly informed the playing group they are all valued by coach Ciraldo and the Bulldogs.
Gould also reportedly heaped praise on the squad for continuing to perform and stay focused, despite the external noise surrounding Galvin’s arrival at the club.
Galvin will partner Sexton in Round 15 in the young gun’s first start for the Canterbury-Bankstown club, with Matt Burton named 18th man for the Blues.
Former Bulldogs player Aaron Woods was one of many who questioned if Galvin’s move to the club would cause instability.
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“Especially (signing him) mid-year, he hasn’t done all the hard work that the blokes have done since November,” Woods said.
“If you want to win a competition, players have to fit in.
“I heard Toby Sexton after the game (talking about his surprise at being demoted to hooker).
“And it didn’t look good what happened with Reed Mahoney in the sheds.
“He was the first big name to come to the club.”
It remains to be seen whether Sexton, who is without a contract for the 2026 season, remains at the club beyond this season.
