Gardner was signed by the Parramatta Eels for the 2008 season and began playing in their Toyota Cup (Under-20s) team. In his first season at the club he played a total of 16 games and scored 136 points including kicking 32 goals from 44 attempts as well as scoring 18 tries. Those 18 tries included four in one game against the St. George-Illawarra Dragons as well as a hat-trick against the Penrith Panthers. A shoulder injury kept him out for the beginning of the 2009 season but he returned to action against the Dragons in round 5 and scored two tries including an 80 metre effort. He played a further 13 games for the season, scoring 100 points including 12 tries and 26 goals from 41 attempts. His season came to a premature end when he suffered a hamstring strain in the round 21 clash against the Sharks. In total he played 29 Toyota Cup games for the club scoring more than a try a game with 30 tries and kicking 58 goals for a tally of 236 points.
