Worst outside back in the comp. Anyone know if it was a Madge or Hartigan signing?
Give him time. Unfortunately, due to injuries, that is going to be in the NRL. His main problem is positioning and not relying on his inside man to do their job. This can be learnt. He can tackle and is elusive in attach and makes good post contact meters despite his size. He is worth persevering with IMO.
Sorry Mike ...but he has played 40 good minutes in 8 rds ...if that was anyone else we'd all be up in arms ....can you imagine everyone's reaction if it was Brooks , Liddle , Tamou .....
He’s had 7 NRL games. The NRL is not Super League. It would be better if he could spend some time in reserves for sure but injuries means he will be in the NRL side. Brooks, Tamou and even Liddle are NRL veterans in comparison. I’m not giving up on Gildart. He has a lot of positives.
Blokes like Cini and Pauga didn't get 7 chances .......Gildart defensively is a liability
Cini & Pauga are not in the same league as Gildart. Agree that he has defensive issues but these can be fixed.
Gildart's defence is so far below NRL level he should be playing in the same league as those 2 which is State Cup.
Don’t disagree however circumstances are that he is playing NRL. He’ll come good.
Would be better off with Peachy in the centres.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Would be better off with Peachy in the centres.
Maybe and maybe not. Depends if the stupid Peachy shows up or the one that actually plays footy and knows his role. The latter yes I’d prefer that as well, but the former, no thanks.
Would be better off with Peachy in the centres.
Maybe and maybe not. Depends if the stupid Peachy shows up or the one that actually plays footy and knows his role. The latter yes I’d prefer that as well, but the former, no thanks.
Gildart has no idea how to defend a block play.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Garner to the Panthers in 2023
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has come back to haunt the Wests Tigers, using his one-time association with Luke Garner to poach the back-rower as the premiers’ replacement for Viliame Kikau.
As revealed by News Corp, Garner dropped a bombshell on the Tigers by quitting the joint-venture club on Wednesday to join the Panthers on a two-year deal starting next season.
The rangy Garner had interest from a number of NRL rivals, including Parramatta, Newcastle and the Gold Coast Titans, but opted for the Panthers as the premiers plan for life after Canterbury-bound back-rower Kikau.
Such was Garner’s desire to experience success and win a premiership ring, the 26-year-old took a paycut on his $375,000 deal at the Wests Tigers to link with the Penrith juggernaut.
Panthers premiership coach Cleary was a pivotal figure in the poaching raid.
Cleary handed Garner his NRL debut at the Wests Tigers in 2018 before sensationally walking out on the joint venture club the following season to return to Penrith in a move that saw him branded a traitor by furious Tigers fans.
Now Cleary has struck another blow on the Tigers, who are desperately trying to rebuild the embattled club under coach Michael Maguire and head of football Tim Sheens.
Garner’s manager Tas Bartlett confirmed the hard-running forward was attracted by the challenge of re-igniting his career under Cleary at a Penrith club targeting a premiership dynasty after their title breakthrough last season.
“Ivan gave Luke his NRL debut for the Tigers, so they have a history and Luke has great respect for Ivan,” said Bartlett of PSM.
“Players like to go where they are most comfortable and Luke likes the coach and believes he can win a premiership at the Panthers.
“It’s a good signing for Penrith. They will only have one or two new guys coming into the team next year so the Panthers have stability as a club and it was a pretty easy sell for Luke.
“The Tigers have had some lean years and Luke hasn’t been able to play finals footy, but now he is joining a Rolls Royce footy side and he is keen to press for a grand final and hopefully win a comp.”
It is understood the Panthers had limited spending power under the salary cap and were on the lookout for a shrewd buy to replace Kikau, who has signed a big-money deal with the Bulldogs next season.
Cleary believes he has a ‘Money Ball’ purchase in Garner, who has played 62 top-grade games for the Tigers since his NRL debut in 2018.
Garner runs strong lines on the edges and is also versatile, with the Dubbo product named at centre for Saturday’s clash against Manly at Brookvale.
“Luke seems a logical choice to replace Kikau,” Bartlett said
“Luke is a left side back-rower and with Kikau going to the Bulldogs, Garner has a real opportunity to slot straight in and make the position his own if he can.
“The Panthers are the best team in the league so it’s a great opportunity.
“He had some interest from quite a few clubs but it was hard to go past the Panthers given their current standing in the game.”
Top 8 2023
Would be better off with Peachy in the centres.
Maybe and maybe not. Depends if the stupid Peachy shows up or the one that actually plays footy and knows his role. The latter yes I’d prefer that as well, but the former, no thanks.
Gildart has no idea how to defend a block play.
He’ll learn
Garner to the Panthers in 2023
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has come back to haunt the Wests Tigers, using his one-time association with Luke Garner to poach the back-rower as the premiers’ replacement for Viliame Kikau.
As revealed by News Corp, Garner dropped a bombshell on the Tigers by quitting the joint-venture club on Wednesday to join the Panthers on a two-year deal starting next season.
The rangy Garner had interest from a number of NRL rivals, including Parramatta, Newcastle and the Gold Coast Titans, but opted for the Panthers as the premiers plan for life after Canterbury-bound back-rower Kikau.
Such was Garner’s desire to experience success and win a premiership ring, the 26-year-old took a paycut on his $375,000 deal at the Wests Tigers to link with the Penrith juggernaut.
Panthers premiership coach Cleary was a pivotal figure in the poaching raid.
Cleary handed Garner his NRL debut at the Wests Tigers in 2018 before sensationally walking out on the joint venture club the following season to return to Penrith in a move that saw him branded a traitor by furious Tigers fans.
Now Cleary has struck another blow on the Tigers, who are desperately trying to rebuild the embattled club under coach Michael Maguire and head of football Tim Sheens.
Garner’s manager Tas Bartlett confirmed the hard-running forward was attracted by the challenge of re-igniting his career under Cleary at a Penrith club targeting a premiership dynasty after their title breakthrough last season.
“Ivan gave Luke his NRL debut for the Tigers, so they have a history and Luke has great respect for Ivan,” said Bartlett of PSM.
“Players like to go where they are most comfortable and Luke likes the coach and believes he can win a premiership at the Panthers.
“It’s a good signing for Penrith. They will only have one or two new guys coming into the team next year so the Panthers have stability as a club and it was a pretty easy sell for Luke.
“The Tigers have had some lean years and Luke hasn’t been able to play finals footy, but now he is joining a Rolls Royce footy side and he is keen to press for a grand final and hopefully win a comp.”
It is understood the Panthers had limited spending power under the salary cap and were on the lookout for a shrewd buy to replace Kikau, who has signed a big-money deal with the Bulldogs next season.
Cleary believes he has a ‘Money Ball’ purchase in Garner, who has played 62 top-grade games for the Tigers since his NRL debut in 2018.
Garner runs strong lines on the edges and is also versatile, with the Dubbo product named at centre for Saturday’s clash against Manly at Brookvale.
“Luke seems a logical choice to replace Kikau,” Bartlett said
“Luke is a left side back-rower and with Kikau going to the Bulldogs, Garner has a real opportunity to slot straight in and make the position his own if he can.
“The Panthers are the best team in the league so it’s a great opportunity.
“He had some interest from quite a few clubs but it was hard to go past the Panthers given their current standing in the game.”
Thanks for posting, an entertaining read. Good luck to Luke, I hope taking a pay cut works out for him.
Thanks for posting, an entertaining read. Good luck to Luke, I hope taking a pay cut works out for him.
They are the 'rolls royce' of NRL after all and obviously we are a Hyundai i30
When you hear how glowering the manager speaks of his move to the Panthers on less money - you realise what an easy job the top teams have in recruitment compared to teams that haven't made finals like us.
Nothing against Garner- have been impressed with him this year. But he's no kikau.
And we will have blore and papalili next year
Top 8 2023
I’m sure Brown is signed as cover for Rua in reserves for this year and we do need some experience players in cup side.
When he 1st came through his best spot was 6
Would be better off with Peachy in the centres.
Maybe and maybe not. Depends if the stupid Peachy shows up or the one that actually plays footy and knows his role. The latter yes I’d prefer that as well, but the former, no thanks.
Peachey's signing has been as bad if not worse than Gildart's
@frullens Blore might play the odd game do not hold your breath ! some bodies are not up to it his seems to be the case !
@eastiemagpie Good luck to him and good luck to the club to be able to sign someone that has some impact!
@unhappy-tiger I read somewhere that he can play 5/8, half and lock. Good player when he was at the Sharks, but for some reason never kicked on.
@unhappy-tiger I read somewhere that he can play 5/8, half and lock. Good player when he was at the Sharks, but for some reason never kicked on.
Pretty sure he has done his ACL twice ....didn't mention it in his wiki ...but I know when I saw him do it once sure they said it was the 2nd time .....
Garner to the Panthers in 2023
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has come back to haunt the Wests Tigers, using his one-time association with Luke Garner to poach the back-rower as the premiers’ replacement for Viliame Kikau.
As revealed by News Corp, Garner dropped a bombshell on the Tigers by quitting the joint-venture club on Wednesday to join the Panthers on a two-year deal starting next season.
The rangy Garner had interest from a number of NRL rivals, including Parramatta, Newcastle and the Gold Coast Titans, but opted for the Panthers as the premiers plan for life after Canterbury-bound back-rower Kikau.
Such was Garner’s desire to experience success and win a premiership ring, the 26-year-old took a paycut on his $375,000 deal at the Wests Tigers to link with the Penrith juggernaut.
Panthers premiership coach Cleary was a pivotal figure in the poaching raid.
Cleary handed Garner his NRL debut at the Wests Tigers in 2018 before sensationally walking out on the joint venture club the following season to return to Penrith in a move that saw him branded a traitor by furious Tigers fans.
Now Cleary has struck another blow on the Tigers, who are desperately trying to rebuild the embattled club under coach Michael Maguire and head of football Tim Sheens.
Garner’s manager Tas Bartlett confirmed the hard-running forward was attracted by the challenge of re-igniting his career under Cleary at a Penrith club targeting a premiership dynasty after their title breakthrough last season.
“Ivan gave Luke his NRL debut for the Tigers, so they have a history and Luke has great respect for Ivan,” said Bartlett of PSM.
“Players like to go where they are most comfortable and Luke likes the coach and believes he can win a premiership at the Panthers.
“It’s a good signing for Penrith. They will only have one or two new guys coming into the team next year so the Panthers have stability as a club and it was a pretty easy sell for Luke.
“The Tigers have had some lean years and Luke hasn’t been able to play finals footy, but now he is joining a Rolls Royce footy side and he is keen to press for a grand final and hopefully win a comp.”
It is understood the Panthers had limited spending power under the salary cap and were on the lookout for a shrewd buy to replace Kikau, who has signed a big-money deal with the Bulldogs next season.
Cleary believes he has a ‘Money Ball’ purchase in Garner, who has played 62 top-grade games for the Tigers since his NRL debut in 2018.
Garner runs strong lines on the edges and is also versatile, with the Dubbo product named at centre for Saturday’s clash against Manly at Brookvale.
“Luke seems a logical choice to replace Kikau,” Bartlett said
“Luke is a left side back-rower and with Kikau going to the Bulldogs, Garner has a real opportunity to slot straight in and make the position his own if he can.
“The Panthers are the best team in the league so it’s a great opportunity.
“He had some interest from quite a few clubs but it was hard to go past the Panthers given their current standing in the game.”
Thanks for posting, an entertaining read. Good luck to Luke, I hope taking a pay cut works out for him.
Lets hope his form at the WT's doesn't drop off now .....
