Live: High-profile recruit Galvin dropped from Bulldogs in ‘tactical decision’

Great passage of play from North Queensland, and they score from it.

The home side was helped by a penalty, which got them into an attacking position.

The Cowboys threaten to score down the left wing, with Murray Taulagi streaking towards the line, but he was tackled five metres short.

The Cowboys immediately spin the ball to the right, Zac Laybutt gets the ball.

The right centre puts on a big step back infield, runs through a hole, and scored.

Poor Jaeman Salmon.

The Bulldogs lock tried to take a hit-up, but the pass hit him in the shoulder and is knocked on.

But as Salmon reached in the air to regather the ball, Cowboys second-rower Jeremiah Nanai has levelled him with a rib-rattling tackle.

Salmon is spending some time on the ground. That hurt.

Nanai looked like Goldberg in a wrestling ring, cutting the Dogs forward in half.

It has been a very sloppy start to this contest.

Both teams have dropped the ball multiple times.

Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater has kicked out on the full.

Neither coach will be thrilled about the quality of handling so far.

Cowboys right winger Robert Derby drops a high kick, put up by Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton.

You can bet your last dollar that Burton will do kick to Derby again tonight.

It gives the Bulldogs the first chance to score tonight.

Midway through the set the ref calls for a six-again restart.

Cowboys halfback Tom Dearden pulls off a terrific tackle on the goal line, stopping forward Viliame Kikau.

One play later, Bulldogs fullback Connor Tracey drops the ball and ends the attack.

The Cowboys kick-off.

The Bulldogs get the first use of the footy, and they will run to the right of your screen.

It is a solid set of six for the Bulldogs, who get to their kick easily.

The biggest talking point ahead of the Cowboys vs Bulldogs clash, is the Bulldogs’ decision to drop high-profile recruit Lachlan Galvin.

Fox Sports has quoted the Bulldogs club, saying it is merely a tactical decision to battle the Cowboys.

“Galvin not playing is a tactical decision – needed another forward on the bench as cover with Max King backing up from Origin and Jaeman Salmon returning from injury,” the club said, as reported by Fox Sports.

North Queensland welcomes back Murray Taulagi (number 22), who will play centre.

Jaxon Purdue (number 3) will play five-eighth, joining Queensland star Tom Dearden in the halves.

For the Bulldogs, Lachie Galvin has been dropped from the bench in favour of Kurtis Morrin (number 22).

Jaeman Salmon (number 20) will start at lock, and Bailey Hayward (number 13) moves to the bench.

Sam Walker could face even more time on the sidelines after the Sydney Roosters superstar was sin-binned for an ugly shot in his comeback game, a tense 31-24 defeat of St George Illawarra.

In his first game for 314 days, injury-stricken halfback Walker struck David Klemmer in a cannonball tackle, bringing the prop to the turf by entering the fray late and targeting his legs.

The dangerous first-half shot put a damper on an otherwise strong return from Walker, who gave the Roosters the halftime lead with a field goal and then laid on a crucial try in the second half.

Sporting headgear on return from his latest concussion, Victor Radley flew in for the game-sealing try in the final three minutes by grabbing a high inside ball from James Tedesco.

The Roosters will be hoping for an uninterrupted two months of Walker magic on the run to finals as they move back into the top eight with Saturday night’s win at Kogarah Oval.

But Walker will face suspension if he receives anything more severe than a grade-one charge, with the last man cited for a cannonball tackle, Karl Lawton, rubbed out for two games.

A ban would be a tough pill to swallow for Walker after last month’s broken thumb delayed his return from the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in September.

The two sides scored a staggering five tries between them in a frantic first 17 minutes.

Walker’s edge put Daniel Tupou over for two tries as the veteran feasted on Tyrell Sloan, but Saints’ Sione Finau gave his own opposite man, rugby convert Mark Nawaqanitawase, the same treatment.

But after coming back from the sin bin, Walker put the Roosters up by a point with a field goal from 12 metres out in the final minute of the first half.

His beautiful flat ball to Billy Smith gave the visitors their fourth try just after the break and reminded the NRL world just what they’d missed while the skilful 23-year-old was out injured.

After some good chances, including a Jacob Liddle knock-on over the line, the Dragons finally had second-half points through a lovely Kyle Flanagan short pass to Jaydn Su’A on the right.

But as in last week’s loss to Canberra, they had to settle for gallant defeat and are set to finish the weekend four competition points out of the top eight.

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Sloan gets bundled over the sideline as he tries to kick it back in-field, the Roosters roll downfield and on the last Tedesco goes right to the line and fires a great ball to Radley who plunges over to wrap it up.

Been an entertaining clash and Saints had their chances but the Roosters do enough to take it. It’s the sixth time this year the Dragons have lost by six or less.

Walker converts, Roosters lead 31-24 and that should do us.

Guler goes for a low percentage offload on the fourth and he knocks it on. With time running short, that could be a costly one for the Red V.

The Dragons get pinged for a strip on Toia but they challenge and it and the call is overturned. Saints ball, 20 out, full set, can they draw that bit closer?

You bet they can – Flanagan isolates Walker and puts Su’A over for the try! Nice stuff from Flanagan and a terrific line from the backrower, who is celebrating his 150th NRL game.

Crucial kick here for Holmes, it’ll bring them within one score. He’s been hitting them well though, it’s about ten in from touch…wait, it’s Flanagan who’ll take it with Holmes being treated for an injury.

He makes no mistake! It’s a one-point ballgame with 13 to go.

Leilua hits Holmes short and he looks tryline bound only for Foketi to JUST drag him down in time! But a flop from Collins leads to a six again, the Dragons have had a mountain of ball but can they capitalise?

Gutherson nearly slides through, Crichton just drags him down and then Liddle goes for it from dummy half and claims it. We go upstairs, Atkins wants them looking for a knock on….and the ball does move.

Roosters hang on again, the Dragons and the crowd don’t like it.

The Canterbury Bulldogs have made some late changes for their clash with the North Queensland Cowboys, in Townsville.

The most intriguing of them is teenager Lachie Galvin being dropped from the side.

Galvin was named on the bench, but will make way for Kurtis Morrin.

Galvin has been the focus of the NRL since securing a mid-season move from Wests Tigers, with the Bulldogs firmly in premiership contention but losing their last two matches.

The Roosters nearly pulled off one of the tries of the season – Tedesco went wide to Nawaqanitawase, he went for the corner as the defence closes but the winger throws a crazy pass behind the back to Toia, he looks for Tedesco but the ball doesn’t stick.

Very sharp stuff, the Roosters look like they’re building….until Foketi gives away a ruck penalty and the Dragons get a chance to reply.

Smith takes a great catch in his own in-goal and races back to the 20, it gets the Roosters moving and by the end of the set they’re on the attack, Walker catches Lawrie on an edge and goes short to Smith for a really nice try.

Sharp stuff from the returning halfback and a great set from the Roosters all together.

Walker converts and it’s 25-18 Roosters. 

We’re halfway home, Roosters kick us off.

Walker’s back on the field and he finishes off a crazy half of footy by knocking over a field goal from 15 out and right in front.

Roosters lead 19-18 at the break and let’s all take a breath.

Under heavy pressure, Savala puts a great kick across-field, Holmes gets isolated and Toia flies high to take it and score! Very nice from the two young fellas and a big play for the Roosters considering they’re a man down.

Savala converts and it’s 18-all

Walker’s penalised for hitting Klemmer below the knee and Atkins has sent him for ten – said he was the third man in and below the knee, which he was, and the halfback goes for a sit down.