Why Penrith Panthers player has Ivan Cleary's wife to thank for NRL grand final appearance
Cleary's wife Bec suggested Luke Garner as an option to him when he was looking for a second-rower.
Penrith's recruitment is widely regarded as one of the best in the NRL. But the potential of Luke Garner wasn't initially spotted by Ivan Cleary or his Panthers scouts, but instead by the Panthers coach's wife Bec.
Garner signed with Penrith ahead of the 2023 season out of necessity as the premiers had just lost back-rower Viliame Kikau to the Bulldogs. Following his exit, Penrith football boss Matt Cameron had been on the lookout for his replacement, when Garner caught his eye during a Wests Tigers game in the 2022 season. Cameron promptly texted Cleary to suggest the club look into Garner as an option.
Garner was handed his NRL debut by Cleary while he was at the Tigers in 2018. But the message from Cameron shocked the Panthers coach, as Garner was already on his radar due to his wife's glowing assessment of the backrower, as he replied to Cameron: "Are you talking to my wife?"
Unbeknownst to Cameron, the coach had been mulling over bringing Garner to the foot of the mountain for a while after his name was brought up by his wife Bec, who remembered the back-rower from Cleary's time at the Tigers. Before long, Garner had met with Cameron at the Panthers' centre of excellence and agreed to terms on a two-year deal.
And ahead of his second NRL grand final the 29-year-old quipped that Cleary's wife must actually be the mastermind behind Penrith's three straight premierships. "Maybe Bec's the recruitment officer, maybe she's the one secretly picking the team every week," Garner told to AAP ahead of Sunday's grand final. "It's a cool story."
Luke Garner grateful for opportunity at Penrith Panthers
Garner took a sizeable pay cut to join Penrith for the 2023 season but was rewarded with his first premiership last year and he has eyes on another in 2024. But Garner admits when he joined Penrith he was unsure if more success was on the horizon.
"When teams win sometimes you see a bit of complacency slip in or whatever. That's only natural, I suppose, that's what humans are like," he said. "But when I got here, it was the complete opposite, they were hungrier than ever."
Garner played off the bench as the Panthers secured an incredible comeback win over the Broncos in last year's grand final. But he is set to start in the second row in this year's big dance as the club hunts for an unprecedented fourth straight premiership against Melbourne at Accor Stadium on Saturday night.
Garner has taken the starting spot of injury-plagued Scott Sorensen on the edge and hopes even if Sorenson manages to overcome his hamstring injury his recent form will result in him keeping his starting spot. "I never like giving up my spot, but he is a good friend of mine and an unreal player. Whatever coach decides, I'll be happy with," Garner said.
Matt Eisenhuth at ease with NRL grand final situation
If Sorensen does come into the side for this weekend's grand final it could come at the expense of Matt Eisenhuth. But the back-rower says he is at ease with the fact he may miss out on a maiden grand-final appearance although he hopes he can experience the grand-final feeling.
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But Sorensen is confident of overcoming what has been an injury-plagued season to force his way into the Panthers' 17. But that means clubman Eisenhuth - who has had to watch Penrith's last three premiership victories from the stands - would likely miss out. However, it isn't a situation that is new to the former Tigers player. "I've been here for three of them and just been on the sideline or been 18th or 19th man," Eisenhuth told AAP.
"I know if I get the chance to run on the field, it'll be the best (feeling) ever. We're all competitive beasts, you are always striving to be in that 17 and sometimes it's not to be and that sucks sometimes.
"We knew the situation last week where if he was good to go, then I wouldn't play. That's how it is, and we're sweet with that, we're happy for each other either way. If he is out this week and I was playing in my first grand final, he'd be stoked for me."
with AAP
