The pain of missing out on the chance to play his first NRL game at Campbelltown Sports Stadium is front and centre in the mind of Wests Tigers rookie Lachlan Galvin in his return from suspension.
The 18-year-old grew up playing junior grand finals at the venue and has long dreamt of featuring in the top-flight at the ground however he was forced to watch from the sidelines as his side fell to the Dragons in front of a sold-out crowd on Sunday.
Galvin is in line to return for Saturday's clash with the Penrith Panthers in Bathurst, having served his two-game ban for a hip-drop tackle and is determined to make up for lost time.
"It hurts watching out there," Galvin said. "I hate missing footy but I did the tackle and have to take my suspension.
"I've worked hard last week and hopefully I get back against Penrith and get back to playing some good footy."
The youngster made his NRL debut in round two and has emerged as the leader of a new generation of Campbelltown juniors looking to reverse the club's fortunes after a number of lean years.
Match: Panthers v Wests Tigers
Round 7 -
home Team
Panthers
4th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
13th Position
Venue: Carrington Park, Bathurst
Coach Benji Marshall has taken Galvin under his wing as he looks to mould the playmaker into a superstar.
For Wests Tigers premiership winner John Skandalis, Marshall is the perfect man to mentor the promising talent.
Skandalis was a senior figure in the playing group when Marshall burst on to the scene and he can see plenty of similarities between the master and his apprentice.
"You couldn't have a better person to teach him," Skandalis said. "Benji was in that same position as a kid, from his first game to his last everyone wanted a piece of him. Lachy's in that same boat as well.
"They both have that same confidence. They're not scared to try things and when they try things and it doesn't come off, they go back and do it again until it works. He's got a long way to go before making his real mark on the game but I'm looking forward to seeing it."
Galvin won't have to wait long to achieve his dream of playing at his junior ground should Saturday's clash with the Panthers run smoothly.
Not a bad debut for Lachlan Galvin
The Wests Tigers return to Campbelltown next weekend for a round eight clash with the Brisbane Broncos, with another big crowd likely.
"We play our junior grand finals out there so running out for the Tigers in the NRL is going to be mad," Galvin said.
"Hopefully I'm back for the [game against Brisbane], I'm going to love running out there again."
