Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney has defiantly claimed he could remain at Canterbury, while also opening up on the bombshell arrival of Lachlan Galvin and jilted teammate Toby Sexton.

In an interview recorded before a combustible Monday game against the Eels in which he was replaced at hooker by Sexton, in order for Galvin to make his debut off the bench in the halfback spot, Mahoney said he had been impressed with the ex-Wests Tigers teen and hoped to remain alongside him at the club.

With the Cowboys touted as a potential new home for the $600,000 per season rake, Mahoney claimed that reports of him being forced out were “complete rubbish”. He said he had asked the club for clarity on his future, which was not yet available.

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“I’m still contracted next year at the Dogs, so it wasn’t like I’m trying to leave or they’re pushing me out. It was more discussions with the club just to see what it looks past 2027, a couple of years away,” Mahoney told former NRL star Josh Mansour on The Unscripted Show podcast.

“They just said ‘we’re not sure yet’ and that was the end of it. As I said, ’27 is quite a while away, and they’ve got a lot of young hookers coming through and got some pretty big players coming.

“That was us getting on the front foot. (Talks) with Gus and my manager, and that was us getting a head start.

“They didn’t kick me out. I haven’t been asked to leave. None of that at all, that’s complete rubbish, it’s just sort of us just asking the question and just going from there really.

“The Dogs could re-sign me next week, you know what I mean?

“I’ve definitely spoke to Gus at length about things and I trust Gus as anyone does, and I’ll just keep playing good footy and these things will happen.”

When asked if he wanted to stay, Mahoney added, “Yeah, of course. I love the Dogs.”

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Mahoney’s agent Sam Ayoub made similar comments this week, claiming suggestions Mahoney was on the outer “couldn’t be further from the truth”.

“He made 32 tackles in 40 minutes in the first half (against the Eels). He had worked himself to a standstill. He is not on the outer,” Ayoub said to News Corp.

“I went to the club and asked them what they were thinking with Reed after next season. They said they weren’t sure yet and I asked them whether I could quietly look around. They said yes but also made it clear that they were happy for him to stay next season.

“It was all done in good faith and goodwill and has always been in the best interests of the player. Gus has always been good like that.”

While Galvin appears to have triggered team upheaval at the Dogs, inexplicably while they are first in the NRL, Mahoney said he had been impressed with his arrival at the club and sympathised with the crushing scrutiny he’d copped over his Tigers exit.

“He’s 19. You’ve got to remember he’s 19. He’s quiet. From what I’ve seen, he’s willing to really work hard and a bit of a sponge, asking a lot of questions,” Mahoney said.

“Far out, bro … for everything that he’s been through the last few months, hats off to him, because it’s tough at 19.

“I like what I see from him and the thing now … everyone knows he can play footy, right, I’ve played against him with the Tigers and all the games he’s played. Everyone sees the talent, it was more a question of where he was going to fit in, and not just in the team, but culturally as well.

“He said it himself when he walked in the door, he said, ‘I’m here to work hard and gain your respect’.

“So everyone’s happy with him at the moment … it seems like he’s fitted in really well and really eager to learn, which is good.”

It is unclear if the events of Monday would have changed Mahoney’s thoughts. He was visibly upset after being taken from the field, while Sexton admitted that he initially thought that an on-field directive from Galvin to move to hooker, so that he could play halfback, was a joke.

Mahoney also gave a careful appraisal of Sexton’s situation, with the halfback unsigned for next season and clearly the main fall guy for Galvin’s arrival. Mahoney said Sexton had been a model teammate.

“I’m pretty close with Toby … and since he’s come to the club he’s been nothing but great for us,” Mahoney said.

“The first day he walked in he was, ‘I’m here to help, I want us to get better’; he wants to get better himself. The thing is with halfbacks, I just feel a bit sorry for them sometimes. Toby hasn’t even played 50 NRL games yet … and you want them to go out there and play like Nathan Cleary at 150 games. It’s hard.

“He’s really professional, trains hard, does a lot of video. Which is all you can ask.

“He took us to a finals last year, we’re sitting first at the moment. But sorta just unfortunately … that’s not my cup of tea to worry about, which is good, so I’ll keep going about my own business.”