Christmas arrived early for the Canterbury Bulldogs as they secured the signing of promising talent Lachlan Galvin. His commitment to the team has even drawn comparisons to a notable comedy figure from the ’90s.

The worst-kept secret in rugby league became official on Friday, with Lachlan Galvin becoming the latest signing for the big-spending Doggies. 

The Bulldogs revealed Galvin’s signing on Friday, following the Tigers’ decision to release the five-eighth after a drawn-out saga lasting six weeks and generating numerous headlines.

‘We wish Lachlan all the best with another NRL club,’ Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson said in a statement.

Galvin agreed to a contract extending with the Bulldogs through the end of 2028, with the possibility of debuting for Canterbury in their upcoming King’s Birthday match against Parramatta.

But footy fans reacted to the big news by voicing their disbelief over the haircut Galvin was rocking on Friday, which many said made him a dead ringer for the character Lloyd Christmas from Dumb and Dumber. 

For those who are too young or need a reminder, Dumb and Dumber is a 1994 comedy film starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels as two well-meaning but clueless friends. 

Lloyd Christmas, played by Carrey, is a dimwitted limo driver with big dreams and zero common sense. He sets the plot in motion by falling for a woman who leaves her suitcase at the airport, sparking a cross-country trip to return it. 

Lloyd is instantly recognisable thanks to his bowl-cut hairstyle, which became iconic in 1990s pop culture. The blunt fringe and uneven cut suited his clueless personality and exaggerated the film’s absurd tone. 

Lloyd’s haircut became a symbol of the film’s over-the-top silliness. Even decades later, it remains one of comedy’s most memorable looks. 

And now fans are delighting in the fact that Galvin is rocking it for a new generation. 

‘Doggies have signed Lloyd also,’ one posted.

‘Some real Lloyd Christmas energy here,’ pointed out another.

Social media is full of Dumb and Dumber references for Galvin, with another fan adding: ‘G’day mate, let’s throw another shrimp on the barbie’, referencing one of the character’s famous lines.

‘So you’re saying there’s a chance?’ another follower posted on social media, referencing the iconic 90s comedy.

‘Has Lloyd Christmas met Gus yet?’ asked another, in a pointed dig at Bulldogs boss Phil Gould.

‘You look like the guy from Dumb and Dumber. And so you should for how you treated Wests,’ a disgruntled Tigers fan added. 

The Jim Carrey reference flew over the heads of many fans, though, with Galvin also compared to Robin Hood character Friar Tuck, and Australian boxer Harry Garside.

Regardless of the pop culture reference, fans were lining up to slam the hair style.

‘The NRL needs to step in and suspend him for 12 weeks for that haircut. Duty of hair,’ one fan posted.

‘Good on the kid. He can now afford to go to a barber and not do his own haircuts,’ another said.

‘That haircut was a parting ways gift from the Tigers,’ another quipped.

Despite being controversially snapped training with the Bulldogs before the release was given from the Tigers, Galvin said he ‘couldn’t wait to meet all the boys’ at Belmore.

‘Watching and seeing the path that the Bulldogs are on at the moment and how they’re going week in, week out, I think has really drawn me to the club,’ he said.

‘Getting in here now, it’s really exciting and obviously meeting Ciro [coach Cameron Ciraldo] and all the assistants is pretty cool.

‘The way that they’re speaking to me and the way the club is going at the moment is something I really want to be a part of.’