Skipper feels for Galvin amid NRL contract speculation

Apisai Koroisau feels sorry for Wests Tigers young gun Lachlan Galvin, conceding Dylan Brown's Parramatta exit means the teenager is set for a year in the headlines.

Within minutes of Brown's decision to take up a $13 million deal at Newcastle, Galvin became the man considered most likely to one day replace him in the Eels' No.6 jersey.

A Parramatta junior representative, Galvin is contracted at the Tigers until the end of 2026 after a superb rookie season last year.

But after previous multiple releases from the Tigers, Galvin is expected to become a free agent on November 1 and make himself available to be approached by rivals.

That will leave the 19-year-old's future in a state of limbo this season, with Tigers teammates conceding he will be in the spotlight until his next contract is signed.

"I do feel sorry for him," Tigers captain Koroisau said.

"It's such a hard situation for him. He's still a kid. He's in the headlines, his name is getting thrown around.

"When you do get thrust into the NRL it comes with the territory. But at the same time he is still a kid ... he just wants to play footy.

"You have to be there for him ... It's probably one of the hardest things he has been through at the moment, and all the attention is on him."

A Campbelltown product, Galvin was scooped up by Parramatta out of Westfields Sports High before being cut by the club in his mid-teens.

He later moved to Wests juniors, before requesting releases prior to and during his rookie NRL season last year.

The five-eighth shares a manager with Parramatta halfback Mitch Moses, and is the face of the Tigers' next generation of talent.

"It's very important the club lock him down. But in saying that, he is already here for another two years," Tigers recruit Jack Bird said.

"He's just got to let his footy do the talking. When the time is right he will make the right decision for him. I hope he will stay at the club."

More immediately, the Tigers look poised to release David Klemmer to St George Illawarra, with the fully fit prop not sighted at club training on Wednesday.

His departure is contingent on the Dragons clearing a spot for him in their maxed-out roster, and would also likely give the Tigers the cap space to sign winger Taylan May.

May is free to play in the NRL again after domestic-violence charges he was fighting were dropped on Monday, after the wife he was accused of punching did not show up to court.

The winger attended the Tigers' season-opener on Friday night, with his brother Terrell already at the club.

Koroisau said it was up to the Tigers to decide whether to pursue May, but he had no doubt his former Penrith teammate could regain his best after almost a year out.

"A lot of it has to do with muscle memory," Koroisau said.

"He has been out there so much before, it's not like he is trying to reach that level for the first time. I don't think it would take him that long to come back."