Benji Marshall says he made decision to drop Lachlan Galvin over Wests Tigers exit

Benji Marshall has denied Lachlan Galvin had been bullied by his teammates as he confirmed the decision to drop the 19-year-old star - after he announced he was leaving the club - was entirely his.

A defiant Marshall faced a barrage of questions as he spoke publicly for the first time about Galvin’s exit after 2026 on Thursday.

Galvin told the Tigers he was not interested in a contract extension, which would have been worth $1 million a year over five years, and his manager also had a list of grievances about Marshall he took to his meeting with Tigers CEO Shane Richardson last week.

Several Tigers players reacted angrily to Galvin’s announcement both on social media and behind closed doors but Marshall said Galvin had not been bullied by these actions.

Galvin was met with ridicule, with both winger Sunia Turuva and Jarome Luai taking veiled digs at the playmaker on their personal Instagram accounts.

That led to claims that the teenager was being bullied - a suggestion Marshall rejected.

“I don’t think he’s being bullied by the other players,” the coach said.

“We don’t stand for bullying, and I spoke to the team this morning about it - that’s not us.

“We’re not bullies, our players are not bullies. They had an emotional reaction ... but it’s not bullying.

“I don’t think (Turuva) should have done it ... but am I going to slap (him) on the wrist for it? No, we don’t need that.”

Marshall said he had decided to drop Galvin but wanted to hear from senior players such as Luai and Api Koroisau. After he met with them it affirmed his decision.

“I called a meeting with senior players. I had a decision in my mind. I made that decision and had their support,” Marshall said.

Galvin needed to now “earn some trust to put him in the frame” for a return to the first-grade team, Marshall said.

The Wests Tigers legend said he was “surprised” by Galvin’s shock call to leave 18 months before his contract was up and was unsure if he would see out his contract.

Under his guidance, Galvin enjoyed a breakout season in the NRL last year and was named in the Prime Minister’s XIII.

“I was shocked by it and a little bit disappointed,” Marshall said.

“Everyone thinks I can’t coach anyway, so it’s not that different to what’s been said.

“He is contracted here for 18 months whether that happens or not I don’t know.

“I love coaching Lachie. I told him, ‘I think you are the future of the club even if you don’t.’”

“I am not going to change the way I am. I care for Lachie. I am all about the mental well-being of my players.

“We need to take a chill pill, the threats and everything. We need to move on.

“Let’s chill with all the shit that is coming his way.”

Luai, who made a social media post with the phrase “team first” that was interrupted as a dig at Galvin, said his relationship with the teen had “been good up until this point”.

Luai said while there no “no hard feelings” the players were not happy with what had been said indirectly about Marshall by Galvin and his post was about showing his “support” for his coach.

“What has been said I think he (Marshall) has been (disrespected),” he said.

The former Penrith star who signed his own big money deal to come to the Tigers conceded “it’s been a bit messy”.