Recently re-signed Panthers backrower Luke Garner says he is grateful to be playing his 100th NRL game this week because there was a big part of him that thought he’d never get there.
One of Garner’s goals in the pre-season was to notch up the century in season 2024, while his other goal was to play every game this year.
While the latter never eventuated due to a pesky hamstring injury that saw him miss a dozen games, he will get to ‘raise the bat’ against the Rabbitohs at BlueBet Stadium on Friday night.
“It’s very exciting! I’ve had a bit of time off football this season and this was the game I definitely wanted to get to this year,” Garner told the Weekender on Wednesday.
“There were a few moments in my life where I didn’t think I’d get even one game let alone 100, so it’s pretty cool.”
Before Ivan Cleary debuted Garner at the Tigers back in 2018, the 28-year-old was a member of the Sydney Roosters, playing predominately for their reserve grade team in Wyong.
Not getting a look in at the Roosters under Trent Robinson, Garner said leaving the Bondi Junction club for Wests in 2017 was and still is the most pivotal moment of his career.
“As a younger guy, I was turned away from teams or when I was at the Roosters back in the day, I wasn’t shunned from there, but I definitely wasn’t good enough to be a first grade player and I was told more or less that I probably wouldn’t be, and now I am,” he said proudly.
“Getting pushed away from the Roosters back then, I look back on that being the best thing for me, so it’s pretty exciting I get to play 100 games after coming off the back of a few speed bumps along the way.”
Garner will be hoping to celebrate his milestone with a victory over South Sydney.
It’s been a lean little period for the defending Premiers after they dropped back-to-back games last week for the first time this season, and Garner knows time is running out to turn things around.
“Last week against the Raiders was disappointing but we took plenty of lessons from it,” Garner said.
“We have to try and learn from those things and not take the losses too hard.
“We’re still a good team. We’re still in the top four. I think if we can get some momentum over the next two games, hopefully the Finals look good for us again.”
Garner said winning his maiden Premiership last season was one of the highlights of his 100-game career and he’s not prepared to leave his personal title tally sitting at one.
“I’m not satisfied with what we did last year. I definitely want to win again this year,” he affirmed.
“The hunger is still there, and I think it is with all the crew. We just have to change a few things and hopefully we’re on our way to being there at the end of the year again.”
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.