Flat out dumb decision if Tigers let him go. I've got no problem with signing a better back rower to replace him, but you don't develop players then just let them go to save a few bucks. You need these players in the squad. Blore, Tuilaga, Tuki etc. need to prove themselves before we can be banking on them just yet.
I think we've seen Garners best and what he's capable of and it doesn't make sense to persist with some one that isn't quite good enough.
We're building something here and guys like Garner... and others such as BJ, MCK, etc. Haven't lived up to expectations so we're going a different way.
Appreciate your post and understand what you're saying but it's all about roster management as well as salary cap management... our second row is weak and Garner is a, one, of the reasons of this.
Losing him to Manly but replacing him with a better suited player, whoever that may be, is smart business.
I'd like to know who the better player is that will replace him in the squad first. That's all.
Blore and Tuilaga look better, I'll admit that, but lets see how they go first. I'd still be keeping him for depth.