The Tigers are bracing for Utoikamanu’s agent to request permission to negotiate with rival clubs if the prop forward misses out on State of Origin selection in game two.
More pressing is the future of Galvin, whose manager last week lodged the latest of many release attempts over the past few months.
Big talent: Young playmaker Lachlan Galvin.Credit: Getty
“Well, he’s got a contract, it’s very simple. He’s got two more years under contract, and we intend to keep him to the contract,” Richardson said.
“This club let players go away seven years ago and we’ve never recovered. I’m going to see his mum and dad this week. And I’ll have a chat with them about it all and where he’s going. But some of the promises I’ve made to him since I got here have been kept. He’s in first grade. He’s at five eighth, which I think they doubted he would be.
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“There’s a whole lot of head banging in his ears. He’s become great overnight and a champion and I understand that and then everybody’s in his ear saying, ‘You could be here’. I will say this to any club out there that thinks they can chase Lachie Galvin: There’s a thing called anti-tampering.
“And if you think for one minute, for one minute, I won’t to take it to the NRL, you’re kidding yourself. No doubt it’s happening. But I’ve got to get proof. But if I get proof, we’ll take it to them.”
Richardson insists the team’s position at the foot of the ladder is where he expected them to be at this stage, given the lack of depth in the roster.
However, he believes the arrival of Jarome Luai will be the circuit-breaker.
“No doubt,” he said. “Are you kidding? Have you seen him play? [People saying] that he couldn’t play halfback and won’t lead the team around. He’s killed it in two game at halfback [for Penrith]. He’s playing better than he did at five eighth. He wants to be a leader on the field. He wants to lead players around.
“Jarome Luai is a once-in-a-lifetime halfback. This club was so fortunate to have got him. Then we get the speed on the wing with Turuva. We’ve got some great young kids out wide coming through.
“We’re not in a bad space whatsoever. We’ll fight our way back. No one ever believed Souths would be great again, but they were. Hopefully, Galvin could lead us, like [John] Sutton did, into that greatness.”