Luke Garner has dropped a bombshell on the Wests Tigers by quitting the club to sign with premiers Penrith.
News Corp can reveal the Panthers have planned for life after Canterbury-bound Viliame Kikau by landing Garner on a two-year deal to replace the blockbusting Fijian forward in their premiership-winning back row.
Garner had interest from a number of NRL rivals, including Parramatta, Newcastle and the Gold Coast Titans.
But in a blow for a Tigers club desperately trying to rebuild under coach Michael Maguire and head of football Tim Sheens, Garner will join the Panthers next season to fill the left-side void left by Bulldogs recruit Kikau.
Garner has informed the Tigers and Panthers of his decision.
The rangy 26-year-old has played 62 games for the Wests Tigers since making his NRL debut in 2018.