The versatile forward has won two premierships with Penrith.
The Penrith Panthers have reportedly granted two-time premiership-winning forward Luke Garner permission to speak to rival clubs and are willing to let him leave early. Garner was part of the Panthers’ premiership-winning teams in 2023 and 2024 and is contracted until the end of 2026.
However the Daily Telegraph is reporting that Garner and his management have been granted permission to leave one year early if he can find a new club. The report states the Parramatta Eels were initially one of three clubs interested in the versatile forward, but a three-year deal has been tabled by a different team.
The 29-year-old Garner has played 114 first-grade games to date – 75 with the Wests Tigers and 39 with Penrith. He’s proven to be a versatile weapon for Ivan Cleary’s side in 2025, playing second-row, lock and centre.
He played in the Panthers’ grand final victories in 2023 and 2024 grand finals, coming off the bench both times. He’d be a handy pick-up for a rival club, and would join a long line of premiership-winning players to leave Penrith.
NRL fans react to reports about Luke Garner
Due to salary cap constraints, the Panthers have been forced to part ways with big-name players like Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau. NRL fans are predicting Garner might end up reuniting with former teammates Crichton, Burton and Kikau at the Dogs. Others were quick to question why the Panthers would release him early, considering he’s been a key cog in their side in 2025.
The Panthers are flushed for depth in the back-row, with the likes of Isaah Yeo, Isaiah Papali’i, Scott Sorensen, Liam Henry and Mavrik Geyer. Former Panthers star Bryce Cartwright is also back in the Penrith system after joining St Mary’s in Ron Massey Cup after being granted an immediate release from the Eels. Some have speculated he might end up back in a Panthers jersey, although it appears more likely his career at NRL level is over.
Garner has been relegated to the bench for the Panthers’ Round 16 game against the Warriors on Saturday, suggesting he might be on the outer. Speculation has been rife on social media about where he might end up playing in 2026.
Panthers assistant coach to join Perth Bears
As well as losing premiership-winning players, the Panthers are also losing their champion assistant coaches. On Thursday, the Perth Bears announced the signing of Panthers assistant Ben Gardiner to work as Mal Meninga’s right-hand man.
Gardiner, who helped the Panthers win premierships in 2023 and 2024, will join the Bears in 2026 to help Meninga with recruitment before they enter the NRL competition in 2027. Gardiner is the current head coach of the Samoa national team, and previously led the North Sydney Bears in NSW Cup. He joins Cameron Ciraldo and Andrew Webster as Penrith assistant coaches to score roles at rival clubs during their run of four-straight premierships.
