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Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has confirmed that Luke Garner will land at the club from Wests Tigers in 2023, after previously handing him his NRL debut in 2018.
Ivan Cleary doesn't want Luke Garner to try to act as a replacement for Viliame Kikau but does believe his determination will make him a value NRL buy for Penrith.
Coach Cleary confirmed on Thursday he had lured Garner further west to Penrith, with the second-rower off contract at the Wests Tigers this year.
It will make for a reunion with the Bilambil junior, who made his NRL debut under Cleary at the Tigers back in 2018.
Garner becomes the reigning champions' first notable signing this year, having lost hulking second-rower Kikau as well as hooker Api Koroisau.
"He's not replacing Billy, no-one is a like-for-like with Viliame," Cleary said, referencing Kikau's size and power.
"But I'm really happy to have Luke join us. I think he can really add to our team and we can add to him too.
"I have a relationship from him the past and I think he is the kind of guy who can flourish in our environment."
Born in Dubbo, 26-year-old Garner shapes as a different prospect for the Panthers than most of their stars who emerged from western NSW and came straight into the club's system.
He featured in Manly's under-20s program, missing out on a full-time NRL contract there before landing at the Tigers for his NRL debut two-and-a-half years later.
When Cleary gave him his start he was still working as a lawnmower on the side, before becoming one of the club's most reliable backrowers.
His exit from the Tigers follows Luciano Leilua's shift to North Queensland and fellow second-rower Kelma Tuilagi's looming 2023 move to Manly.
"Back in those days when he first started he had been a pretty highly-touted junior," Cleary said.
"But then he ended up mowing lawns and doing his best playing reserve grade.
"He played his way into a full-time contract. That's a good sign. He's quite grounded in that respect.
"He's continued to grow. He is a good age profile for our team.
"We're young, he's got good life experience. I think he will fit in well here."
