Surprise JFH replacement emerges amid Penrith scramble

Penrith has been left scrambling to fill a major hole in their roster for next season and beyond, with the departure of James Fisher-Harris set to cripple the powerhouse club.

Just months after bidding farewell to Spencer Leniu, the reigning premiers are now set to lose the heart and soul of their forward pack after Fisher-Harris was granted a release to return home to New Zealand and sign with the Warriors.

The 28-year-old is arguably the best prop in the NRL right now, taking out the Golden Boot award last season and winning three-straight titles with the Panthers.

Fisher-Harris is going to be a tough man to replace – especially in the short-term given the nature of the player market – but hope is not lost entirely for Penrith.

Moses Leota is locked up long-term and will become the leader of the engine room, while young props Liam Henry and Lindsay Smith are pushing for an extended role.

However, the Panthers will need to look outside their own four walls in an attempt to replace Fisher-Harris, who lays the platform for the star-studded backline each week.

Wide World of Sports breaks down potential replacements for the Kiwis captain and spiritual leader at the club for 2025 and beyond.

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