It has been revealed Toby Sexton was set to be dropped after the loss to the Dolphins as debate raged over the Bulldogs’ decision to sign Lachlan Galvin.
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Sexton confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season on Tuesday, with Galvin set to join the club in the coming days.
However, The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read revealed Sexton was set to be dropped and was never in the club’s long-term plans.
“Toby Sexton didn’t have an offer on the table from the club,” Read said on NRL 360.
“I think it was pretty clear the club was moving in another direction. In fact, it’s my understanding, Toby probably wouldn’t have been in first grade next week and Bailey Hayward would have been in at halfback.
“So I think the writing was on the wall for Toby Sexton. Did you see them last week?
“There is every chance he was going to be in reserve grade next week.”
However, veteran journalist Phil Rothfield believes dropping Sexton with the team on top of the table is too harsh.
“He did get him to the top of the ladder,” Rothfield said.
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“They have won nine from 11.
“I saw him last week. Are you going to do that on one game and they were without three State of Origin players, and they’re without how many players suspended and injured?
“If Canterbury were going to drop him it’s unfair.”
Regardless, Read believes Hayward or Galvin will be the Bulldogs’ No.7 after the bye and revealed Reed Mahoney leaving the club is about freeing up money to get the Tigers playmaker.
“I’m just trying to tell you, there was every chance that Bailey Hayward would have been the halfback in the next game against Parramatta,” Read said.
“That may still be the case. Lachlan Galvin may come off the bench in that game.
“And in terms of Reed Mahoney, he asked for permission in the off-season to explore his options.
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“This isn’t a Lachlan Galvin-related thing. He asked for it six months ago or so at the end of last year, to look around the comp if he could get a long-term extension, at the end of this year, would they consider letting him go? He just asked the same question again.”
However, Rothfield revealed Mahoney wanted to look at his options for a long-term deal elsewhere after Galvin’s reported release from the Tigers.
“I’ve spoken to Sam Ayoub about this and he asked the same question around the same time that the West Tigers gave Galvin permission to negotiate elsewhere, when it became likely he was heading to Belmore,” Rothfield said.
“That’s when he asked for a release. And he’s on big money Reed Mahoney. It’s over $600,000 and he wants to get a head start.”
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Braith Anasta asked if Mahoney’s money will go to Galvin’s long-term deal.
“Are you saying that that could be money freed up for Galvin?” Anasta asked.
Rothfield believes Cameron Ciraldo is eyeing Hayward as Mahoney’s replacement at hooker next season and warned a number of players will need upgrades.
“Well they’ve got to free money up,” Rothfield said.
“I mentioned a couple of players who have been hopelessly underpaid. Jacob Preston and Max King.
“You’re talking about Bailey Hayward playing halfback. I thought he might play Hayward at hooker next year for Reed Mahoney.
“But this is where I’m talking about unrest. Gus has confused, not only in the entire rugby league world, but the players who are inside those four walls at Belmore. No one knows what’s going on.”
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However, Read believes the Bulldogs needed to improve their spine to match the elite teams like the Storm, which is why they went after Galvin.
“I think that’s really unfair on Cameron Ciraldo,” Read said.
“We’ve sat here on this panel. I’ve said it since the day the season started. They do not have a spine to win this competition this year.
“And, OK, they look pretty good in recent weeks. They were really poor last week. So I am not going to have a go at them for going out and getting a young player who can give them the strike they need in the spine to compete with Melbourne.”
