There is a tinge of sadness in Moses Leota’s eyes when he remembers the day James Fisher-Harris turned up at his house to deliver food and instead handed his Penrith front-row partner the news he never wanted to hear.
His good friend was leaving the Panthers.
Fisher-Harris’s decision to seek a release from Penrith back in April and return to his native New Zealand sent shockwaves through the NRL.
The prop’s exit was prompted by the death of his grandfather, a desire to reconnect with his Maori roots and that led to him inking a deal with the Warriors.
But before he had signed on the dotted line, Fisher-Harris had to inform Leota he was going.
The pair are inseparable, run a clothing business called Bash Bros together, and have become one of the most dominant front-row duos in the NRL era during Penrith’s success-laden past five seasons.
“That day, he rang and told me he was going to drop off some food at my place … I thought it was weird,” Leota told AAP.
“I said we would go round to his place and we’d pick it up, but then he said, ‘No, I have to come, I really need to talk to you’.
“He came round and I could just tell there was something he didn’t want to tell us, something he wanted to get off his chest.
“He was finding it tough to tell us but when he finally told us our heads were spinning.
“It was a sad day for me and my family but I know he’s doing the best for him and his culture.
“When he told us about [his family situation] … the heart wants what the heart wants and because it’s for family you can’t say no to that. I’m just happy for him.”
Leota and Fisher-Harris have the chance to finish in style in Sunday’s grand final against the Storm and go out with a fourth-straight premiership.
Fisher-Harris’s departure means Leota will have extra responsibility in the middle of the field over the coming years, even if he is loath to refer to himself as one of Penrith’s “big dogs”.
The prop prefers to fly under the radar after arriving in Australia as a teenager for a summer holiday and he never left. He went on to become one of the game’s standout front-rowers.
“If you would’ve said to me I’d play [in this many grand finals], I would have said you’re talking shit,” Leota said.
“One grand final would have been doable but this club, this community is just so special.
“I hope that my younger siblings can look up to what I’ve done and that can inspire them to choose the right path … hopefully one day they can be in this position too.”
AAP
