Galvin confirmed at Bulldogs on monster deal

The Wests Tigers have finally confirmed the worst-kept secret in the NRL – that Lachlan Galvin's time at Concord is officially over. And he has now signed with the Bulldogs on a deal that will keep him at the club until the end of 2028. Hours after video was posted to a Bulldogs fan account of Galvin training in Canterbury kit, the Tigers released a short statement announcing the two parties had "mutually agreed to an immediate conclusion of his playing contract". "We wish Lachlan all the best with another NRL club," Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson said. Then shortly after came the statement from the Bulldogs: "The club is thrilled to welcome Lachlan to the Bulldogs family," the statement read. It contained no quotes from club officials or from the 19-year-old himself. Asked earlier on Friday if he was disappointed Galvin was gone, Tigers coach Benji Marshall was honest. "I don't know if disappointment's the word," he said. "Look, at the same time we like our players we've got, we love the squad we've got. "We're excited about some of the young players we've got coming through and for us, we want to try and make a mark on the competition this year and with the squad we've got, we're confident we can do that but we've got to put it together this weekend." Galvin's relationship with the Tigers was rocky at best, and reached a head last month when his manager Isaac Moses refused to consider a lucrative contract extension with the club. With fellow young gun playmaker Latu Fainu still sidelined, Mason Heath comes in to play five-eighth against the Cowboys on Saturday. Marshall says spirits in Tigers camp are high. "It's been a great week of training," he said. "Everyone's looking forward to just playing. We had a week off last week with the bye. The energy around the place has been really good, really positive. We've got a lot of guys excited to play. "I've noticed a real lift in energy amongst the group. "Obviously, (we've) got a few guys coming in that haven't played, guys like Heath who've brought a lot of energy to the team and then with our leaders they've been driving a really good preparation coming off the back of a bye." The Tigers sit 12th on the ladder with five wins from 11 outings.

Demetriou 'prepared to move' for PNG expansion

Jason Demetriou is already working behind the scenes to ensure the Papua New Guinea franchise is an immediate success when the club enters the NRL in 2028. As coach of the national team and a highly respected personality in the game, Demetriou is the early favourite to be the face of the new club. Wide World of Sports has learned that Demetriou is poised to re-sign as coach of the Kumuls in a move that will strengthen his position in the island nation. And Demetriou - a meticulous planner - has already compiled a report on what needs to be done in pathways and junior development to ensure the club makes a flying start in the big league in 2028. "Jason is the perfect candidate for head coach and no one knows more about the game in PNG," Demetriou's manager Chris Orr told Wide World of Sports. "He already has an intimate knowledge of the players in the national team and a good relationship with them. "He has also done a report on what needs to be done in the Cyril Connell and Mal Meninga Cup teams to ensure the young players are properly prepared when the time comes. "He is committed to the game in PNG and prepared to move up there. "He knows there is a lot of work to be done but he is super invested in making the team successful."

PNG to enter NRL in $600m cash splash

Papua New Guinea will officially join the NRL from 2028 with a Port Moresby-based team in a major agreement aimed at bolstering security relations and strategic trust between the two countries and dashing China’s growing influence in South Pacific. Australia will pay $600m to prop up the initial 10-year “rugby league for diplomacy” deal, which was confirmed in a joint press conference between Anthony Albanese and PNG Prime Minister James Marape on Thursday. “Rugby league is the national sport of Papua New Guinea and PNG deserves a national team. The new team will belong to the people of Papua New Guinea,” Mr Albanese said. “It will call Port Moresby home.” The financial investment includes a $60m payment to the NRL for a licensing fee, plus $290m for franchise support, and $250m to bolster rugby in the Pacific programs, with the first payments to begin this financial year. Of the $600m, $480m is from new funding, while the remaining $120m was sourced from existing resources from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Australia’s withdrawal of financial funding will also immediately terminate the PNG team from the NRL. PNG has also committed to building safe, world-class accommodation for players and officials and implementing tax incentives to boost the competitiveness of the franchise. Behind PNG’s pending entry is also a security agreement to ensure the continuing strategic trust between the two countries that will not be made public. While Mr Marape said China would remain a “great trading partner,” PNG had made a “deliberate choice to have Australia as a security partner”. “In security, closer to home, we have the synergy and our shared territory needs to be protected, defended, policed … and in that context, we make this call, and the NRL commercial system fits in neatly with it,” he said.

Carrigan Clone Signs with Broncos

Tupou Francis, from renowned league nursery Marsden State High School, is the younger brother of Titans NRL player Tony Francis. He's also a member of league's prodigious Hopoate clan, the nephew of former bad boy John Hopoate. Still only 16, Francis is expected to play for the Australian Schoolboys next season. A lock, he idolises Broncos powerhouse Pat Carrigan and is attempting to mould his game on the Brisbane star. "He's a great kid with the right attitude and the Broncos didn't hesitate to snap him up on a four-year deal," his manager, former Panthers and Raiders forward Matt Adamson told Wide World of Sports.

Gun coach eyes history, signs new deal with Warriors

The Warriors have moved quickly to lock in Andrew Webster, with the Dally M Coach of the Year re-signing until the end of 2028.The deal is a three-year extension on his current contract, which was until 2025, after the Warriors finished one game away from a grand final.Having previously been an assistant coach at the Warriors in 2015 and '16, Webster replaced Nathan Brown as head coach at the start of the 2023 season.The rookie mentor admitted he always wanted to stick around in New Zealand."I never wanted to leave in the first place so now I get to lock up the future which I'm really grateful for," he said."It was great being here as an assistant when I was at the club the first time and it's even better now."There's a bright future from our pathways through to our NRL roster and especially in the front office with Mark (Robinson) and (chief executive officer) Cameron (George). I truly feel we will have sustained success."If the current deal is fulfilled, Webster will equal the record for the longest coaching tenure in Warriors history with six seasons. Ironically, Panthers head coach Ivan Cleary, who Webster was an assistant for, holds the record.In confirming the extension of Webster, the Warriors CEO spoke of the importance of "long-term development" for the club. "Andrew has confirmed to us that he's the right fit for our club and his skills as a coach are what we need to cement our long-term development through our pathways," George said."He did an extremely good job this season and we have every confidence that he'll continue to grow into the role."Both Andrew and I share the same vision, passion and commitment for success at our club on all levels."Another important element of extending his contract is that the stars of the future can see stability in long-term planning in the head coaching role and they see a coach who is driven to develop players of all age groups to become NRL players of the future for the Warriors."Webster finished the 2023 season with a 16-8 win-loss record in the regular rounds.