Luai insists Galvin was no distraction for Wests Tigers

Wests Tigers players have insisted the first contest with former half Lachlan Galvin was not a consideration for the team, as they produced an extraordinary 28-14 boilover over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

From the opening whistle, it was clear this was going to be a physical and emotion-packed game.

Galvin’s messy exit from the Tigers has been well-documented, and there was no love lost between the Bulldogs’ halfback and his former club.

Every time Galvin touched the ball, he was mercilessly booed by the crowd of just over 17,000, before Luai stood over Galvin after an early altercation.

But despite the former Wests Tigers’ half being the crowd’s focus, it wasn’t a factor for the team.

“I feel like this game was built up around Lachie (Galvin), but we didn’t say one thing about Lachie,” prop Terrell May told SEN League.

“We just came out, tried to prove something and obviously we got the two points in good fashion too.

“We’re building something really special here… I feel like in the next couple years we’re going to be a team to beat.”

Wests Tigers’ co-captain Jarome Luai praised the influence of Benji Marshall in a big week for the club.

“(There were) a couple distractions that sort of arose for the team, but Benji did a really good job making it about us within our four walls,” Luai said on SEN League.

“Really happy (with) the energy and the intent, our start, and even when (Alex) Seyfarth went off for that ten in the bin we turned them away and showed our resilience today.

Luai also revealed there were no concerns with his shoulder after he left the game early holding it.

In the lead-up to one of the most anticipated games of the year, all eyes were on the battle between Galvin and Jarome Luai.

Enter Adam Doueihi as the unlikely hero.

The off-contract Wests Tigers utility has been used in the halves, at centre, and most recently at lock by Benji Marshall, but his form at halfback in the first half would have had the Tigers and rival clubs reaching for the cheque book.

Doueihi had two try assists and a runaway try in the Wests Tigers’ dominant 20-4 first half, locking the game away at halftime.

Emotion overflowed halfway through the second half. Alex Seyfarth and Max King almost came to blows in the centre of the field, before Seyfarth was binned on the next play for high contact.

As it continued to rain cats and dogs, the game became more slippery and wild.

Wests Tigers centre Taylan May slipped into the shoulder of Stephen Crichton, who was lucky to avoid joining Seyfarth in the sin bin. It did, however, allow Adam Doueihi to further extend the Tigers lead to 14, one that wouldn’t be chased down.

A late try to Samuela Fainu, orchestrated by Jarome Luai, sealed the deal for the joint venture in their best win of the season.

Bulldogs prop Josh Curran crossed for a late try in his 100th game but it was too little too late.