It's not too big an exaggeration to say Luke Garner will owe it to Ivan Cleary's wife Bec if he wins a second premiership with Penrith in the NRL grand final against Melbourne.
Penrith football boss Matt Cameron had been on the lookout for a second-rower to replace soon-to-be ex-Panther Viliame Kikau when Garner caught his eye during a Wests Tigers game in the 2022 season.
Cameron texted Cleary to suggest the club look into Garner, who had earned his NRL debut in 2018 during the Penrith coach's stint at Wests.
Cameron was left puzzled by Cleary's response: "Are you talking to my wife?"
Unbeknownst to Cameron, the coach had been considering Garner at the suggestion of his wife Bec, who remembered the back-rower from Cleary's days 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.
"Maybe Bec's the recruitment officer, maybe she's the one secretly picking the team every week," Garner quipped to AAP ahead of Sunday's grand final.
"It's a cool story."
Garner took a sizeable pay-cut and arrived at the Panthers for the 2023 season, a little sceptical whether the side could sustain the dominance that had won two consecutive premierships.
"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 from the bench in the defeat of Brisbane that sealed Penrith's third consecutive title, and is set to start at second row as they hunt a fourth against Melbourne at Accor Stadium.
In-form Garner has usurped injury-plagued Scott Sorensen on the edge and hopes he will hold the spot even if Sorensen shakes off his hamstring issue.
"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.
It's been quite the turnaround for Garner, cut loose by the Sydney Roosters as a junior for failing to apply himself to his craft.
"I've done a complete 180 since then, which is pretty cool. I'm probably the complete opposite of what I was back then," he said.
"I try and tick every box I can, because I've realised what helps me. I probably just needed to get a bit more mature and understand what it takes to be a professional.
"That's probably a big reason why I'm here today."
