The Fish that broke the Panthers’ back: Dynasty in danger as..

This one will sting. The Warriors’ surprise acquisition of James Fisher-Harris at the end of the season has implications not only for those two teams but also for any other team that is getting close to winning a championship.

After the Panthers advanced to the first of their four consecutive grand finals in 2020—which resulted in three consecutive premierships—they suffered a lengthy number of high-profile departures.

The former Panthers who have been playing in the NRL since their heyday began four years ago would make up a formidable team.
Add Fisher-Harris and Jarome Luai, a five-eighth who is headed to the Tigers, and that team might fight for a spot in the top four.

1 stephen Crichton
2 Charlie Staines
3 Brent Naden
4 Matt Burton
5 Thomas Jenkins
6 Jarome Luai
7 Isaiya Katoa
8 Spencer Leniu
9 Api Koroisau
10 James Fisher-Harris
11 Viliame Kikau
12 Kurt Capewell
13 J’maine Hopgood
14 Jack Cogger
15 Jack Hetherington
16 Zac Hosking
17 Jaeman Salmon

Not to mention the individuals who were let go the year before, such as Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Wayde Egan, and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

However, JFH’s decision to join the Warriors will have the biggest effect of all the players who were forced to leave the Panthers because of the wage cap restrictions and the competing teams’ ability to lure their surplus talent away with big deals.

If he’s not the best prop in the NRL, it’s hard to argue against Payne Haas.

Despite being in the early parts of his ninth grade season and having played 184 games, he is still only 28 years old.

Other than the nearly unimaginable possibility of Nathan Cleary abandoning Ivan, Fisher-Harris is undoubtedly the most significant player at Penrith.

Isaah Yeo and Dylan Edwards are the only other participants in the conversation.

With his formidable strength, unwavering determination, unceasing work ethic, and sparing use of words, Fisher-Harris has an intimidating presence that rivals that of a mouthpiece.

The loudmouth at the bar fight is never a significant concern since it’s usually the calm, powerful person in the corner who evaluates the issue, doesn’t jump to conclusions, and settles disputes amicably.

Penrith will be tough to beat without their star player in the middle, but in 2025, their pack will lose its allure, which is fantastic news for Brisbane, Melbourne, and any other club that believes they are on the verge of winning a championship.

The Warriors, who reluctantly granted early releases to Reece Walsh, Matt Lodge, Euan Aitken, and most recently Addin Fonua-Blake on compassionate grounds, have received a big dose of good karma in return from the rugby league gods.

The Warriors are constantly in a pick-and-roll situation; if they recruit an Australian player before they reach their prime or revive their career, they will find themselves homesick when a team on the other side of the Tasman shows them the big bucks.

The Warriors will receive not only a like-for-like replacement but also an upgrade in Fonua-Blake, a 28-year-old who plays the same position in the NRL, when he joins the Sharks the following season.

Shaun Johnson should be persuaded to stay for one more season by Fisher-Harris’ arrival.

Though the Warriors’ Grand Final teams from 2002 and 2011 were impressive in their own right, their current form offers them the best chance to win a championship since joining the major league just under thirty years ago.

If Johnson teams up with Fisher-Harris, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Tohu Harris, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Kurt Capewell, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, and Marata Niukore, there’s no shortage of big-match experience.

Despite having an incredible talent pipeline, Fisher-Harris is practically unreplaceable for the Panthers.

Penrith will not have the same punch in their forward line with the departure of Spencer Leniu in the off-season and Fisher-Harris in the coming summer. Moses Leota has been an underappreciated part of their title hat-trick.

Mavrik Geyer, Lindsay Smith, and Liam Henry all have the size and ability to become elite forwards, but it will take them one or two more seasons to make the kind of weekly impact that Fisher-Harris does.