It's been a rough few years for the Wests Tigers, the unfortunate recipients of three-straight wooden spoons, and a finals drought that stretches all the way back to 2019.
The club has made some winning moves in recent times however; they brought back club legend Benji Marshall as head coach, and raided four-time premiers Penrith, coming away with Jarome Luai, Sunia Turuva, and Api Koroisau.
But perhaps the brightest spot for the team is young gun Lachlan Galvin, who is already shaping up to be the future in Balmain.
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Lachlan Galvin reacts to shock national team call-up
Galvin was the clear-cut best debut player this season, and would have run away with the Rookie of the Year award had a two-week hip-drop tackle suspension not made him ineligible.
While his talents didn't translate to West Tigers wins in 2024, the league has taken notice, and the youngster was rewarded with a call-up to the Prime Minister's XIII.
"To be representing Australia after my first year in the NRL, it hasn’t even sunk in yet, it’s mad," Galvin told the SMH.
"At the start of the year I wouldn’t have pictured any of this to be happening.
"If you put the work in and you want to do it, anything can happen."
Galvin and the other Australian representatives will travel to PNG this weekend, for a match that the 19-year-old says will be a fun challenge.
"They just love their rugby league and everything to do with it," he said. "They mob you every time, it will be fun."
