James Fisher-Harris in sad revelation about family as Panthers hero opens up on exit
The Kiwi international says he is leaving Penrith solely for family reasons.
James Fisher-Harris has revealed that his end-of-season move to the Warriors is so he can look after his family in New Zealand after the passing of his grandfather in March. The Penrith enforcer shocked the NRL world in April, revealing he had signed with the Warriors on a four-year deal beginning next year, after reaching an agreement to leave the Panthers on compassionate grounds.
Fisher-Harris is widely regarded as one of the premier front-rowers in the NRL and had two years left to run on his contract with Penrith. The Panthers, however, ultimately decided to grant the player's request after the prop opened up to coach Ivan Cleary about his desire and sense of obligation to look after his family back home.
Speaking about the difficult decision to leave the foot of the mountain, the 28-year-old revealed the move had nothing to do with his rugby league aspirations. Instead, it was so the three-time premiership winner could become the leader of his family, a decision he knew he needed to make after returning to his homeland in March to farewell his grandfather - who was seen as the leader of his family.
After saying his goodbyes, Fisher-Harris said he came to realise that he couldn't turn his back on the responsibility of taking over as the head of the Fisher-Harris family in Kohukohu on New Zealand's north island. The Kiwi enforcer said his family culture ultimately trumped his love for the Penrith football club as he needed to bear a responsibility and commitment bigger than rugby league.
"Me moving back (to New Zealand) is not about footy, it’s my family," Fisher-Harris told News Corp. "I want to learn more about my culture and take over as the leader in my family and in the tradition of Maori ways, our tikanga. When my pop passed earlier this year, that was it, it’s then I knew I had to make a decision.”
"It feels like a responsibility bigger than rugby league, it feels like a new way to lead, leading in a new direction. It’s like being the captain of your family. In saying that, that’s a title I still have to earn, one that I want to earn. That’s no easy feat, I just feel like being home practising to take over as the head of my family is something I have to do."
James Fisher-Harris leaves massive hole in Penrith's side
Fisher-Harris has played a vital role in the Panthers' prolonged NRL success, leading from the front and setting the high standards that's seen the side secure three-straight premierships and has the club contending for a fourth in 2024. In the 11 seasons Fisher-Harris has spent at the foot of the mountain, the Kiwi international has led a strong yet often underrated and under-appreciated forward pack.
But his exit sees him join a growing list of players that have left the club in recent years. The likes of Spencer Leniu (Roosters), Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs), Jack Cogger (Knights) and Zac Hosking (Raiders) all left following Penrith's 2023 premiership triumph. While Api Koroisau, Viliame Kikau, Matt Burton, Kurt Capewell, Wayde Egan and J'maine Hopgood have all left in recent years and Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva will head to the Tigers next season.
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But it is Fisher-Harris' exit that NRL great Andrew Johns believes could be the straw that breaks the camel's back, as he predicts Penrith to struggle to continue to compete for the premiership in the years to come. "They'll have to buy a play one prop. Maybe they go to England to get one of the big boys over there?" Johns said on Freddy and The Eighth in April. "You look at the players who have left to other clubs, they're the best players. Crichton and Kikau at the Bulldogs, they've changed them around."
