‘He was the missing piece': Moses Leota and James Fisher-Harris go from friends to foes for first time in their careers
They were the brothers of destruction who helped Penrith to four titles in a row, but Moses Leota and James Fisher-Harris will be rivals for the first time on Saturday in a heavyweight showdown across the ditch.
The Panthers will be without their five State of Origin stars against a team that is fighting for a top-two finish, but there will be no shortage of spice between two great mates who dominated up front for the mountain men.
Penrith's plan was always to build the team around guys like Fisher-Harris, Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo, which is why everyone was so shocked last year when the powerhouse prop informed the club that he wanted to return home to New Zealand.
The Panthers didn't stand in his way, with the Kiwis skipper and 2023 Golden Boot winner joining the Warriors where he's added starch to the front row and turned them into premiership contenders.
He now takes on his former side for the first time, with all eyes on his battle with Leota who remains one of Fisher-Harris' closest friends ever since that they won the under-20 grand final together 10 years ago for Penrith.
'This is the first time I've ever played against him. It's never happened before, so it's going to be a new experience for us,' Leota told the NewsWire.
'I think we'll just have to find out in the game what it's going to be like. I've got to do my job for the team and I'm sure he will as well.
'I texted him on the weekend to see how he was going, so we're still close. My missus still talks with his missus.
'We were really close, so we don't want to lose that bond that we had.
'I'm so proud of him. Seeing how well they're going now, I think he was the missing piece for them. The standards he brings (are second to none) and he commands respect.'
The Panthers are rank outsiders with so many stars missing, but they still have several internationals in their team, including Isaiah Papali'i, who joined Penrith in the off-season and gets the chance to start in the back row this weekend.
Papali'i left the Wests Tigers after a tough couple of years, with plenty of people seeing him as Fisher-Harris' logical replacement.
But that's not what Panthers coach Ivan Cleary wanted.
'Those are definitely big shoes to fill, but 'Iv' has reinforced that I just need to be myself and do what I do,' Papali'i said.
'It always helps when the head coach reassures you and reiterates that you don't need to listen to the outside noise and that you just have to be yourself.
'I've really been enjoying my time, and I know that everyone at the club is looking forward to going up against Fish because he's a good competitor.'
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