Can Galvin cameo help Blues counter Maroons’ stars?

July 5, 2026 — 5:00am

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.

Lachlan Galvin’s inclusion in the Blues training camp was more than just a reward for a good season with the Bulldogs – he was flown in to imitate Queensland halves Cameron Munster and Sam Walker as NSW finetune their preparations for the decider.

Munster and Walker have run wild in the first two Origin matches. The unpredictable style in particular of Munster is key to Queensland’s success. If NSW can contain the Maroons halves in game III on Wednesday night in Brisbane, it may be at least in part due to the work they did in two opposed sessions with Galvin.

Before the narcs, bitter Wests Tigers fans and Galvin critics lose their minds, there is no suggestion here that Galvin is as good as Munster yet. But he is unorthodox and ungainly, and attacks the game at all costs, similarly to Munster.

And, for NSW coach Laurie Daley, Galvin’s always-on-the-ball approach made him the ideal player to mimic Munster at training during the week.

“Lachlan has that raw, play-what-he-sees style, and that has been very helpful in preparation,” Daley said.

“And we all know what Munster is like. He’s been very helpful. I like Lachie’s resilience. He has been through plenty and he is still standing and playing very well. He’s been good around the group.”

Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould said: “Lachlan is the sort of player who would be very adept at replicating the style of attack Queensland employ through Munster and Sam Walker. That’s how I’d have used him. I’m just happy Lachlan got to spend time with such high-quality players. It’s a considerable reward for hard work.”

Sydney Roosters utility Hugo Savala, Melbourne’s Tyran Wishart and Gold Coast pair Zane Harrison and Chris Randall also took part in the sessions. All their clubs had byes this weekend.

The Blues have wanted to bring Galvin into their fold for over 12 months. He was due to enter camp last year but the heat around his switch from the Tigers to the Bulldogs was too intense. So it’s a fair indication the young man has extreme talent.

‘He’s a tough young kid’: Why Daley brought Lachie Galvin into NSW Origin camp

In a brief chat on and off camera, Galvin expressed his delight at being picked.

“My hero for the Blues growing up was Jarryd Hayne and to get a chance to be around so many good players in camp is a huge thing,” he said.

“I want to take what I can out of being around here, and I want to be a sponge and absorb what they tell me and what they do and I want to take it into my own game and back to the Dogs. I hope I can help the team in some small........

© Brisbane Times