Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has explained the decision to axe Toby Sexton and bring in Lachlan Galvin at halfback fin what is looming as a season defining selection call.
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The Daily Telegraph reported Ciraldo’s reasons for demoting Sexton to the reserves in favour of Galvin.
Sexton was dropped after leading the Bulldogs to a 12-8 win over the Cowboys last round, after piloting the club to third spot on the ladder with eight games left in the regular season.
However, Sexton has been looking over his shoulder since Galvin’s mid-season switch from the Tigers.
Having not been offered a deal for next year before signing with Catalans in the Super League, the writing was on the wall for Sexton that he was not in the club’s long-term plans at No.7.
And after back-to-back losses to the Panthers and Broncos who are leading contenders for the title, Ciraldo explained his decision to axe Sexton after their attack struggled against one of the worst defences in the NRL in the Cowboys.
“Over the last little period we’ve been working really hard on our attack, we’ve been trying to evolve towards the back end of the year and understanding what’s going to beat those top teams, who have got really good defensive systems,’’ Ciraldo told SEN’s Breakfast with Vossy and Brandy on Wednesday.
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“And we just felt like we weren’t sort of getting there.
“Lachie had been showing some really good signs at training with his natural talent with the ball and with how he can unlock players around him.
“He’s been working really hard. He came up to the coaches box last week, which gave him a really good opportunity to see what we’re seeing.
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“He’s impressed everyone with his work-ethic and ability to learn and while it was a tough decision because we love Toby and he’s done a great job for us – and we’re not giving up on him – but right now Lachie deserves an opportunity.’’
Still, it is a brutal call on Sexton given the success of the team this year and he has had to endure a lot of pressure and scrutiny since Galvin’s arrival.
However, Ciraldo believes that pressure is on all players and coaches in the NRL.
“Everyone has that pressure,’’ Ciraldo said.
“I remember having that conversation with Jacob Preston at the end of last year when we were bringing Sitili Tupouniua in, you could see the look in his eyes and we knew he was going to rise to that challenge and he’s ended up playing his best footy.
“We’ve got jobs to do and we’ve got a deep squad and that’s the good thing.
“We’ve been able to put together over the last couple of years is a deep squad and competition for spots.’’
Ciraldo admitted it was a tough part of the job dropping players, but so long as the team is at the forefront of those decisions he is not afraid to make them.
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“There’s some really hard times where you see players who have come to your club as young men and grown up in that time,’’ Ciraldo said.
“And we also have conversations where we’ve got to leave guys out and they’re not the parts you enjoy, but that’s what we get paid for.
“As long as every decision is in the best interests of the team and the club, they’re not that difficult to have.’’
