League great Mark Geyer has fired up over the attitudes of young players from lower-placed clubs in the NRL amid reports the Wests Tigers are at risk of losing their star playmaker.
After making his debut in round two this season, 18-year-old Lachlan Galvin has been a strong performer in the halves under rookie coach Benji Marshall, however, his future in Concord is under a cloud.
Galvin's management requested a release from the bottom-of-the-table club days before the Tigers recorded their ninth straight loss in a humiliating 54-12 loss to the Dragons.
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The request was rejected, with the club instead promising the playmaker a new deal that will upgrade and extend him beyond his current contract – which expires in 2026 – in an attempt to mollify the teen prodigy.
His release request was not the only one presented to the club, with Stefano Utoikamanu revealing he too wanted out.
The star prop has a clause in his contract that would allow him to become a free agent on November 1 unless he plays the final two Origin games of this series.
Speaking on Triple M's Mick and MG in the Morning, Geyer slammed the lack of stamina and commitment from young players signed with bottom-of-the-table clubs.
"There seems to be a common trend that players of lower-placed clubs just decide to leave when they've lost a series of games," Geyer said.
"No kid these days seems to have that intestinal fortitude when they've been beaten three or four times.
"They want to agitate for a release straight away instead of knuckling down and biting on the mouthguard, and saying, 'Let's get ourselves out of this.'
"They want to go to brighter pastures.
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"They're only one win away from getting their season back on track. Tigers fans, stick with them."
The former Penrith star recounted his own experience playing through a losing streak during his time with the Western Reds.
"My worst I think was 11 in a row, we lost when I was in Perth with the Western Reds," he said.
"There's no sure fix. It's just tough work. You've got to get the training together and you've got to buckle down.
"I'm just sick of seeing these young kids want a release and go to another club after a few losses."
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