‘Funny couple of weeks’: Luke Garner declares he’ll be at the Panthers next year after reports he could have been granted early release

Luke Garner has loved his time at the Panthers, but he admits he didn’t enjoy the past few weeks when his future beyond this year was up in the air.

Edge forward Luke Garner says he “didn’t enjoy” the past few weeks of uncertainty as he weighed up a potential early release from his Panthers deal, but he’s glad it’s all sorted now with confirmation he’ll be at Penrith in 2026.

Garner still has a year to run on his current deal but was given permission by the club to see if he could land a long-term contract at another team.

Several Sydney clubs were reportedly interested in his services, but the two-time premiership winner will stay at the Panthers in 2026.

Luke Garner will remain at the Panthers in 2026 despite being given permission to negotiate a deal with rivals. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“My understanding is he is staying, which is great,” coach Ivan Cleary said last week.

“We always wanted him to stay. It was one of the situations where if he can have a look and extend you maybe think about it.

“But we’re really happy, he is playing great footy and looking forward to the future with him.

“He has been really good for us, which we’ve needed.”

Garner arrived at the Panthers in 2023 after claiming the wooden spoon with the Wests Tigers the previous year, with the versatile back-rower winning back-to-back titles coming off the bench in his two seasons with the mountain men.

He’s been handy coming off the bench but has also been strong whenever he’s started in the back row or in the centres, with Garner just glad the situation has sorted itself out on the eve of the finals.

“It’s been an interesting and funny past couple of weeks. It’s something I’m not used to and I don’t really enjoy,” he told the NewsWire following Penrith’s big win over his former team on the weekend.

“I’ll be at Penrith next year.

“I was looking elsewhere and the club was gracious enough to allow me to do that. But a big part of me didn’t want to leave, and I won’t be. I’ll be here again next year.”

Garner has developed a nice combination with both of Penrith’s halves, including Nathan Cleary, who was in red-hot form against the Tigers. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Garner has started the past five matches in the back row and Cleary now has a tough choice to make with rep star Liam Martin returning from injury via the bench against the Tigers.

Martin will start on the right edge going forward, with Garner and Scott Sorensen to fight it out for the other starting spot.

“I really enjoy my footy here, I love this club and I love the way that we’ve been playing,” Garner said.

“I just enjoy everyone’s company and I can’t just see myself leaving quite yet. I’m stoked to be here again.

“Ivan and I never spoke about it. He’s a cool and calm dude, so it never came up. We had a little interaction the other day when it came out that I was staying, and he just let me know that he was happy that I was staying, and I said the same thing.

“He’s an unreal coach and I love being coached by him.”

Originally published as ‘Funny couple of weeks’: Luke Garner declares he’ll be at the Panthers next year after reports he could have been granted early release