'Our heads had been spinning': Moses Leota remembers 'bizarre' second James Fisher-Harris advised him of choice to depart Panthers

There’s a tinge of unhappiness in Moses Leota’s eyes when he remembers the day James Fisher-Harris turned up at his home to ship meals and as a substitute handed his Penrith front-row companion the information he by no means wished to listen to.

His good buddy was leaving the Panthers.

Fisher-Harris’s choice to hunt a launch from Penrith again in April and return to his native New Zealand despatched shockwaves via the NRL.

The prop’s exit was prompted by the loss of life of his grandfather, a need to reconnect together with his Maori roots and that led to him inking a take care of the Warriors.

However earlier than he had signed on the dotted line, Fisher-Harris needed to inform Leota he was going.

The pair are inseparable, run a clothes enterprise known as Bash Bros collectively, and have turn into one of the dominant front-row duos within the NRL period throughout Penrith’s success-laden previous 5 seasons.

“That day, he rang and advised me he was going to drop off some meals at my place … I assumed it was bizarre,” Leota advised AAP.

“I stated we might go spherical to his place and we would decide it up, however then he stated, ‘No, I’ve to return, I actually need to speak to you’.

“He got here spherical and I may simply inform there was one thing he did not need to inform us, one thing he wished to get off his chest.

“He was discovering it powerful to inform us however when he lastly advised us our heads had been spinning.

“It was a tragic day for me and my household however I do know he is doing one of the best for him and his tradition.

Leota and Fisher-Harris have the prospect to complete in fashion in Sunday’s grand last towards the Storm and exit with a fourth-straight premiership.

Fisher-Harris’s departure means Leota could have additional duty in the midst of the sphere over the approaching years, even when he’s loath to confer with himself as one in every of Penrith’s “huge canines”.

The prop prefers to fly underneath the radar after arriving in Australia as an adolescent for a summer season vacation and he by no means left. He went on to turn into one of many sport’s standout front-rowers.

“If you happen to would’ve stated to me I might play [in this many grand finals], I might have stated you are speaking shit,” Leota stated.

“One grand last would have been doable however this membership, this group is simply so particular.

“I hope that my youthful siblings can look as much as what I’ve achieved and that may encourage them to decide on the correct path … hopefully in the future they are often on this place too.”

AAP