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Tigers toiler Tony provides timely counterpoint to wantaway star Galvin
By Adrian Proszenko, Dan Walsh, Michael Chammas and Robert Dillon
Updated August 2, 2025 — 5.00pmfirst published July 28, 2025 — 6.00am
After a week in which Lachlan Galvin’s haste to exit Wests Tigers has been revisited, Tony Sukkar provides a timely counterpoint.
Sukkar could not be more committed to the black, white and orange, even though, given he is completing a double degree in law and applied finance at Macquarie University, he has other career options. Or that rugby union clubs were once chasing his signature. Or that he suffered so many injuries that there were times he felt his NRL career would end prematurely.
Indeed, the local junior has wanted to do little else but play for the Tigers, even if he sheepishly admits there was a time in his youth that he supported South Sydney.
“Yeah, 100 per cent,” he said of being a Tigers man.
“I’ve been at the club for so long. The faith that they’ve given me and the hard work and the training that they’ve instilled in me and the discipline; I have to go out there every week and just put my best foot on the line.”
Unlike Galvin, Sukkar was never a schoolboy star. At no stage was he publicly courted by Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould. Never generated a headline coming up through the Balmain pathways system. This is a journey to first grade that only occurred after Sukkar proved himself on a train-and-trial deal.
Sunday will mark his 12th NRL appearance, a reward for perseverance after a luckless run with injury.
“I’ve had too many to even write on the paper mate,” Sukkar said.
“I’ve done both my hamstrings twice, syndesmosis, dislocated shoulder. All the way through my junior grades I’ve just been plagued with injuries, it hasn’t been good.”
At times, did he consider throwing it all in and make use of his brain rather than brawn?
Tony Sukkar is totally dedicated to the Tigers.
“Yeah, 100 per cent, it always goes through your mind,” he said.
“I’ve had a great support network and this club’s helped me through as well, my family and whatnot. They’ve always been there for me.”
As a back-rower coming off the bench against Canterbury on Sunday, one of his jobs will be to direct traffic at Galvin. The Enfield Federals junior was diplomatic when asked whether there was any bad blood over Galvin’s messy departure.
“Not really, to be honest. We’re just focusing on ourselves,” he said.
“He’s the leader of their attack and they’re playing great footy off of him. We’re going to go out there to shut him down and shut down the rest of the team.
“Look, nothing in this game is easy at all. If everyone is worried about doing their own job, then I think closing their team down, including Lachie, will be a result we can achieve.”
Having achieved an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) rank of 92, the Christian Brothers Lewisham graduate could make a strong case that he’s one of the smartest men packing down in the NRL.
“I wasn’t always a forward,” Sukkar quipped.
www.smh.com.au
By Adrian Proszenko, Dan Walsh, Michael Chammas and Robert Dillon
Updated August 2, 2025 — 5.00pmfirst published July 28, 2025 — 6.00am
After a week in which Lachlan Galvin’s haste to exit Wests Tigers has been revisited, Tony Sukkar provides a timely counterpoint.
Sukkar could not be more committed to the black, white and orange, even though, given he is completing a double degree in law and applied finance at Macquarie University, he has other career options. Or that rugby union clubs were once chasing his signature. Or that he suffered so many injuries that there were times he felt his NRL career would end prematurely.
Indeed, the local junior has wanted to do little else but play for the Tigers, even if he sheepishly admits there was a time in his youth that he supported South Sydney.
“Yeah, 100 per cent,” he said of being a Tigers man.
“I’ve been at the club for so long. The faith that they’ve given me and the hard work and the training that they’ve instilled in me and the discipline; I have to go out there every week and just put my best foot on the line.”
Unlike Galvin, Sukkar was never a schoolboy star. At no stage was he publicly courted by Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould. Never generated a headline coming up through the Balmain pathways system. This is a journey to first grade that only occurred after Sukkar proved himself on a train-and-trial deal.
Sunday will mark his 12th NRL appearance, a reward for perseverance after a luckless run with injury.
“I’ve had too many to even write on the paper mate,” Sukkar said.
“I’ve done both my hamstrings twice, syndesmosis, dislocated shoulder. All the way through my junior grades I’ve just been plagued with injuries, it hasn’t been good.”
At times, did he consider throwing it all in and make use of his brain rather than brawn?
Tony Sukkar is totally dedicated to the Tigers.
“Yeah, 100 per cent, it always goes through your mind,” he said.
“I’ve had a great support network and this club’s helped me through as well, my family and whatnot. They’ve always been there for me.”
As a back-rower coming off the bench against Canterbury on Sunday, one of his jobs will be to direct traffic at Galvin. The Enfield Federals junior was diplomatic when asked whether there was any bad blood over Galvin’s messy departure.
“Not really, to be honest. We’re just focusing on ourselves,” he said.
“He’s the leader of their attack and they’re playing great footy off of him. We’re going to go out there to shut him down and shut down the rest of the team.
“Look, nothing in this game is easy at all. If everyone is worried about doing their own job, then I think closing their team down, including Lachie, will be a result we can achieve.”
Having achieved an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) rank of 92, the Christian Brothers Lewisham graduate could make a strong case that he’s one of the smartest men packing down in the NRL.
“I wasn’t always a forward,” Sukkar quipped.
Tigers toiler Tony provides timely counterpoint to wantaway star Galvin
Tony Sukkar was never a schoolboy star or courted by Phil Gould. And unlike Lachlan Galvin, he never wanted anything but the chance to play for Wests Tigers.
