Andrew Johns has told the Bulldogs it is time for the club to “pull the trigger” on taking the No. 7 jumper off Lachie Galvin.
Johns on Sunday made the big call after Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo shut down questions about Galvin in his post game press conference following the club’s 32-12 loss to the Broncos.
Under pressure playmakers Matt Burton and Galvin were the only try-scorers for the Dogs, but they did not get on the scoreboard until the 55th minute when the Broncos were playing with 12 men on the field.
Watch every game of every round of the NRL Premiership LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
The Bulldogs seemed to be trending in the right direction after a statement win over Penrith earlier in the month, which doubled as arguably the best game of Galvin’s young career.
But it has been all downhill ever since for Ciraldo’s side, who have dropped out of the top eight after going down to undermanned Parramatta and Brisbane outfits in consecutive weeks.
The Bulldogs have plenty of issues all over the park, but it is the halves pairing issue that keeps coming up.
Johns on Sunday shared his thoughts, branding Galvin a long-term five-eighth.
“I don’t know who can come in,” Johns said when asked about the issue.
“The key position is in the halves, the creative positions.
“I don’t think Matt Burton is an out and out five-eighth. He’s a running five eighth.
“If you’re going to have a big running five eighth, you need an on-ball halfback who does everything.
“We know Lachie Galvin. He’s building his game. I see him more as a long term five eighth. He wants the ball, but he’s still got to understand his game. He’s got that thing where he’s going to the right side where he’s going to Jacob Preston, which I think he’s going to too much with Preston. But he’s still learning his game, and I still think he is an out-and-out five eighth moving forward.
“So where that puts Burton and where Mitch Woods is the young prodigy who they have got high hopes for. I don’t know if he’s fit to go. Mitch Woods I think they need to pull the trigger and put him in there.”
Johns said he does not see it as a gamble to put Woods in the No. 7 jumper.
The teenage playmaker has been injured with a hamstring issue.
Johns said the team does not have any short term solutions.
“I don’t necessarily think it’s much of a gamble because they’ve put so much work into him (Woods) the last couple of years,” Johns said.
“It’s the creative areas. Your creative areas are your spine. There’s no run threat straight out of dummy half. They had Jake Turpin there, he’s a distributor. Bailey Hayward’s as tough as they come, but he’s a distributor. So there’s no run threat.
“And Galvin, I don’t think he’s a halfback. So the question is Mitch Wood and whether he comes in.”
Ciraldo bristled at similar suggestions during his press conference after the Broncos loss.
He highlighted Galvin’s performance against the Panthers earlier this month — one of the former West Tigers star’s best games.
When asked on Friday if Galvin was better suited at five-eighth, Ciraldo quickly shut the question down with a timely reminder.
“Did you think two weeks ago he was?” Ciraldo said, to which the reporter replied that at times Galvin had looked “erratic” on Friday night.
“He’s a 20-year-old half at the moment,” Ciraldo added in response.
“He’s got a great lesson there from a guy who’s had 15 years doing what he’s doing. But there are only lessons if you learn.”
