WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n Along with those omissions, the Bulldogs\u2019 attack has been lacklustre and criticism has been aimed at rising star Lachlan Galvin, who has taken over from Toby Sexton at halfback.<\/p>\n League icon Matty Johns, albeit admitting it\u2019d be a big call, explained Matt Burton could be the man to fill the gaping hole in the centres, with Sexton earning a No.7 recall.<\/p>\n \u201cQuestion for the Dogs, Kiraz is out of course, Montoya is out, Bronson Xerri is out. Left side centre, let me throw something at you,\u201d he said on the Matty and Cronk podcast.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease don\u2019t dismiss it entirely, Burton to left centre. Galvin to six, Sexton to seven… they wouldn\u2019t swallow their pride?\u201d<\/p>\n Burton switched to the centres after Xerri failed his HIA in Round 27, but was quickly moved back into the halves at halftime, and also started Round 18 in the outside backs.<\/p>\n For league legend Cooper Cronk, the fact Burton was rushed back into his five-eighth position against the Sharks proves the Dogs need his kicking game at five-eighth.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, you\u2019re not far off the mark… I don\u2019t think they\u2019d do it. Their kicking game, long kicking game particularly, is affected,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou saw what happened when Burton went there on the weekend, their long kicking game suffered… Sexton is on the bench for me, there you go.\u201d<\/p>\n With the Bulldogs\u2019 attack floundering, veteran rugby league reporter Phil Rothfield was of the belief Galvin was \u201csuffering\u201d with the weight of expectation.<\/p>\n With Galvin in the No.7 jersey, Canterbury have managed 20 points or more in only three of eight games, tallying only four points against a finals rival in the Sharks last weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cTo me, Galvin is a big story, he came to that club under unprecedented blowtorch, Richo offering him a five-year $6m deal, Gus (Gould) saying he\u2019s the best teenager ever and he\u2019s had to slot in,\u201d veteran reporter Phil Rothfield said on NRL360 on Monday night.<\/p>\n Lachlan Galvin has endured a mountain of criticism to close out the 2025 season.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cWhat you can see a guy who is suffering a little bit under the tension and the anxiety and he\u2019s not a playing natural Lachlan Galvin game we saw at the Wests Tigers.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is carrying the weight of that entire football side for the campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n Even for veteran playmakers, the pressure of finals football can weigh heavily on their shoulders, and premiership-winning star Braith Anasta explained Galvin is no different.<\/p>\n The young gun has also been injected into the halfback role, with his previous first grade experience coming as a freewheeling five-eighth.<\/p>\n Anasta likened Galvin\u2019s struggles as a No.7 to Panthers icon Craig Gower, who began his career at hooker before learning how to become an organising halfback at a young age.<\/p>\n \u201cCraig Gower, one of the game\u2019s best halfbacks, said he wasn\u2019t a halfback to begin with,\u201d Anasta said.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone has forgotten about that. He wasn\u2019t halfback and they bought (Galvin) as a halfback. They\u2019ve tried to turn him into a halfback at a premier club coming first.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not easy to do that in first grade rugby league as a 21-year-old kid. Add to that expectation and pressures. I think many have overestimated his talents at this stage.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Dogs skipper Stephen Crichton is certain Galvin will deliver a statement performance in the club\u2019s finals clash against the Storm.<\/p>\n \u201cThe evolution of him since he has come has made our team a better side. Not everyone will see that, and that\u2019s fine,\u201d he explained to Code Sports.<\/a><\/p>\n ‘He’s the best backrower in the game’ | 00:59<\/p>\n \u201cBut everyone in our four walls that understand what our system is and what we need, and that\u2019s no offence to Toby (Sexton) because he did what was needed but that next step was Lachie.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like regardless who was in our number seven they would have copped it. But I\u2019m confident whoever is there will get the job done.\u201d<\/p>\n And like everyone who came before Galvin, criticism is unfortunately what comes with being in a pivotal position.<\/p>\n \u201cI just feel like he cops it a bit overboard at times,\u201d Crichton said.<\/p>\n \u201cEven players like Nathan (Cleary) has been through it. If you\u2019re not getting hate, I don\u2019t feel like you are doing it right.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like everyone is always trying to pull the good players down, and I think Lachie at the age of 19-years old right now, he is definitely going through it tough.\u201d<\/p>\n For league legend Gorden Tallis, the expectation and pressure to deliver could stem from phil Gould\u2019s hefty wraps of the talented playmaker.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I sat with Phil Gould, I was a 20-year old guy and I\u2019d played State of Origin, and he called me a bench player. that was ringing in my ears for five years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n ‘Would take an elephant gun to stop him’ | 00:41<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n CRAWLS: Hip drop drama exposes NRL finals issue; Madge\u2019s Reynolds dilemma<\/a><\/p>\n TEAM TIPS: NRL\u2019s stunning Hynes backflip; injury disaster rocks Raiders<\/a><\/p>\n TALKING POINTS: \u2018Shocked\u2019 Sharks\u2019 big Nicho call; Galvin hides Dogs problem<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>
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