Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo delivered a masterclass that would have made Patches O’Houlihan proud in the art of being able to dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge questions about his halves triangle.

The battle to be Matt Burton’s long-term partner has more of a rom-com than Dodgeball feel about it. 

There’s the reliable plain Jane archetype, “hidden in plain sight” type in Toby Sexton who has done an efficient job in the No.7 jersey all season. 

Then there’s the new sensation who is turning heads all over the town with the flashy haircut, allegedly, whose name has been on the tips of everyone’s lips in Lachie Galvin. 

Ciraldo deflected no fewer than nine leading questions in his Wednesday media conference in the lead-up to Thursday’s stoush with premiers Penrith about the Sexton vs Galvin tussle for the No.7 jersey. 

Them pesky journos were like a dog with a bone but Ciraldo’s demeanour remained unchanged, even sneaking in a “we’re taking it one week at a time” cliche for good measure. 

“We’ve probably got plan A, plan B, plan C again, but he’s there as a bit of insurance for our backs and if an opportunity arises somewhere else, he’s been training in a number of positions,” Ciraldo said about Galvin, who has played two matches in the blue and white since his controversial mid-season exit from Wests Tigers.

“He’s done really well since he’s got here and every opportunity he’s taken. So he’ll get another one tomorrow night.”

Galvin and Sexton teamed up in the halves while Burton was away in Origin camp in Canterbury’s last-start win over Souths.

The 24-18 win was a clunky one and neither playmaker was particularly brilliant or put in a case for losing out so Ciraldo has kept Sexton in the starting spot for now with Galvin listed to come off the bench.

“He’s been brilliant (about being put on the bench). He just says, whatever you need, I’m ready to go’. That’s the type of people we want here,” Ciraldo added.

Toby Sexton. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“I think what we’ve done really well over the last period is just take it one week at a time, not think too far ahead. 

“That’s all we’ve done this week. We’ve had a bye to refresh and get some training in and all we’re thinking about right now is Penrith tomorrow night and going there with a good plan that we want to execute.

“I think Toby’s trained really well. I thought he showed some really good signs in the last game and that competition for spots is really good for everyone.” 

Ciraldo likened his halves situation to the addition of Sitili Tupouniua from the Roosters in the off-season when his arrival meant Jacob Preston was under pressure to remain in the starting second row alongside Viliame Kikau.

Preston has risen to the fringe of Origin selection, forcing Ciraldo to use Tupouniua as a middle forward option. 

“Preston really rose to that challenge and it brought out the best in him. I think if everyone has that attitude, it’s great for them and great for our club. 

“It’s good that we’ve got guys fighting for positions and guys that can play a number of positions and play a number of different roles and do what’s best for the team. So that puts us in a good position, but it’s about making the right decision at the right time.

“It’s pretty handy that we’ve bought a bunch of utilities that can sort of jump around and play anywhere. We’ve shown we’re going to do things differently and do things our own way and we’ll continue to do that.”

The major difference, though, between Ciraldo’s second-row logjam and his halves conundrum is that there are many more spots in the pack or on the bench when you have a few too many edge forwards. 

Lachlan Galvin celebrates a try with teammates. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Galvin showed by the way he exited TigerTown that he does not lack confidence and he’s not here for a haircut, although he desperately needs a better one. 

Sexton is still uncontracted for next year and has been treated in pretty shabby fashion.

The Dogs delayed doing a deal with their starting half for several weeks while they were actively trying to distance themselves from any pursuit of Galvin. 

What an amazing coincidence it was that when Galvin did manage to engineer a mid-season release from the Tigers with 18 months left on his contract that the Dogs still hadn’t signed Sexton and they had a nice chunk of salary cap space at the ready. 

Galvin has chewed into that space for the rest of 2025 and the next two seasons so Sexton’s chances of remaining at the kennel are slim unless he wants to stick around to be a bench utility or bulk up for a switch to hooker if Reed Mahoney gets straight outta Belmore at season’s end.

With 11 rounds left before the finals and the Dogs on course for a minor premiership and their best shot at a premiership since their last triumph in 2004, the lingering question over his halves is one that Ciraldo cannot continue to evade. 

He can do so ad nauseum when he fronts the media but sooner or later he will have to make a call so that his team is settled leading into the playoffs. 

They can give their title hopes an early boost if they can bump off the premiers on Thursday night to put a halt on Penrith’s rapid rise up the ladder to eighth when they were in last spot eight weeks ago. 

A loss will open the door for the upstart Raiders to get the jump on them in the final stretch of the regular season with the Green Machine enjoying the luxury of two more byes and a powder puff schedule to finish the year.