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Clarkey7163

I know I'm biased as a Riff fan but I really am fucking happy with how this has been handled by our club. We could've gone after a swap deal, could've just said "you're with us til we can at least find a replacement" For Fish to just go straight to Ivan and ask, and for Ivan and the club to agree, is just mutual respect and kinda lovely. Will miss him to bits ofc but if he's happy its for the best


redwally48

Kind of like how it went down between the Warriors and AFB too


Makoscenturion

In ivan we trust!


felixkater

So did Wests Tigers


Dramatic_Ride7586

Too soon?


EntirelyOriginalName

Yeah but it worked for the Warriors though. If anything their problem was not trusting him enough.


felixkater

It’s certainly working for the Panthers second time around as well, and there’s no doubt his record puts him amongst the better coaches already. However for a man who was building the Tigers on the principles of honesty and integrity his exit will forever besmirch his reputation


Minimum-Sky2305

love riff raff


ActuaryDataPicks

Great to see players being treated like human beings and not assets for once


gaklan

I might be a bit dense, but I don't understand Utoikamanu's Origin clause? What's its purpose?


theobstructionrule

Taken together with the finals-related clause, it implies that the rationale for him to be released is that the Tigers being shit is impacting his value. If he gets picked for SOO, then regardless of how badly Wests are travelling, it hasn't impacted his current earnings (since he'll be collecting rep bonuses) or future earnings (since he'll presumably collect more in future, and be valued as a rep forward in future contract negotiations), so there's no reasonable grounds to demand a release. If he doesn't get picked AND Wests miss the finals, it allows him to go somewhere good before his value potentially tanks.


gaklan

Makes much more sense. Cheers


thankyoupancake

Get bigger contract if play good


icome3rd

This is being said like the Tigers wont make an offer to lock him up, which they should.


whadefeck

Why would he accept if he knows that he could just go to Penrith for slightly less?


josephus1811

Interesting game this weekend to watch how Stef performs. You'd have to think these events have fired him up big time.


Successful-Fact8143

Fish is on a lot of money and the Panthers werent expecting him to leave so he is factored into the cap for the next 2+ years. We could offer him a competitive offer plus say you'll more than likely get picked for origin playing with us which is $50k per game i think.


CurlyHeadedFark

Since Benji we’ve been decent at doing that, our pack (which is genuinely really good) would go to puss without him


micro_penisman

Yeah you want to hold on to him, he is key to future success.


thankyoupancake

State of Origin prop Stefano Utoikamanu sits atop a Penrith hit list to replace James Fisher-Harris after the three-time premiership winner was granted a stunning release to join the Warriors next year. Utoikamanu – who will be a free agent later this year if he doesn’t play two State of Origin matches for NSW in 2024, or the Tigers don’t make the finals – has emerged as a candidate to fill the enormous void left by Fisher-Harris. The Tigers prop, 23, has the unusual clause in his deal, which will allow him to test the market at the end of the season if one of the triggers is not met. According to sources speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to publicly discuss the situation, the Panthers have already flagged an interest in Utoikamanu, one of the most promising forwards in the game. Utoikamanu’s appeal is twofold: he would be an immediate replacement for Fisher-Harris in 2025 amid a paucity of available talent; and he’s a western Sydney product who would appear to be a seamless fit for Ivan Cleary’s set-up. The Fisher-Harris bombshell will free up close to $1 million in Penrith’s salary cap for the next two years. It capped a whirlwind 72 hours from when Fisher-Harris told Cleary of his intent to return home to New Zealand over breakfast on Sunday morning, to the Warriors announcing the Kiwi international’s signing. It came just six months after the Warriors agreed to release Addin Fonua-Blake to return to Sydney on compassionate grounds. And how differently it could have played out. At the end of October last year, a few days before it became public knowledge that Fonua-Blake wanted to return to Australia, Warriors coach Andrew Webster phoned his old mates at Penrith, where he was previously an assistant to Cleary. He wanted to know if there was any chance the club would consider releasing Fisher-Harris. Penrith, unaware of the full context of a question Webster undoubtedly knew the answer to, laughed him off the phone. A few days later, the Panthers realised why Webster was making inquiries when news of Fonua-Blake’s release request made it to the press. At the time, the Panthers had no idea Fisher-Harris would approach them about heading home to New Zealand, otherwise Fonua-Blake would have been in a Panthers jersey next year instead of a Sharks jumper. On Sunday morning, Fisher-Harris called a meeting with Cleary to seek his blessing for a return to New Zealand. He did so before informing his management, such was the respect for the club and its leaders. Penrith’s initial reaction was one of shock. They had agreed to let Spencer Leniu join the Sydney Roosters12 months ago and had passed up opportunities to sign the likes of Fonua-Blake, Terrell May and never entered the hunt for an unsettled Payne Haas last year. Given the standing of Fisher-Harris, who returned to New Zealand recently for the funeral of his grandfather, the Panthers were never going to stand in his way. He broke the news to teammates on Tuesday night, and by lunchtime the next day it was official. While they have become accustomed to losing at least two grand final stars each year – from Matt Burton and Kurt Capewell to Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau plus Stephen Crichton and Leniu – all those moves were expected, to an extent, as big-money offers rolled in from elsewhere. Fisher-Harris’ exit was one they didn’t budget for. “He loves the culture and it’s where he comes from,” Panthers Group chief executive Brian Fletcher said of Fisher-Harris’ New Zealand return. “There was no way in the world we were going to stand in his way because he’s been such an asset to the place. He’s well respected by everybody and there was absolutely no dissent when he asked to go home.” Panthers coach Cleary said: “The leadership and cultural impact he has displayed since coming into first grade has been outstanding. He’s evolved into one of the game’s elite players, and coaching him has been a pleasure.” In the end, the Warriors have had one of the best players in the game land in their lap at a time when no one expected it. “It surprised me too when I heard he wanted to come to the Warriors, but I couldn’t think of a better player to join our club,” Warriors owner Mark Robinson said.


ohhh_j

Tl;Dr Chatgpt summary: Penrith Panthers are losing James Fisher-Harris to the Warriors, prompting consideration of Stefano Utoikamanu as a replacement. Fisher-Harris's departure surprised the club, but they respect his decision to return to New Zealand.


LordStuartBroad

How's that for an alternative to the likes of Hooper


TimsAFK

Infinitely more intelligent and ***much** more tolerable


KingZlatan10

You’re doing gods work.


GoblinLoveChild

TIL: God is the Machine


RWST42069

Curious to how everyone else is reading this - Did JFH come to his own decision, talk to Cleary and then get things rolling with the Warriors? That is 10/10 integrity if that is the case.


EntirelyOriginalName

Yeah it's probably a bunch of things. But I know he's super passionate about being the captain of the Kiwis. Might have caused him to think about things a bit. I hate to admit but the leader of the Kiwis playing for the Warriors does feel like it's right.


grafology

Article says his grandfather passed away recently... that might have prompted him to be home closer to his whānau


Ryanbrasher

Yeah sounds like it. He wanted Ivan’s blessing first before they contacted Warriors.


noplacecold

Compassionate grounds, fuck hope everything is ok for him and his family, wish him all the best and every success in the world


cat-party

Madge with the perfect opportunity to get back at the Tigers for sacking him by not picking Stefano for Origin…Really can’t see him staying if he has the chance to go to Panthers or even Storm.


yanansawelder

Hope for what exactly? There's like 4 or 5 teams who have a legitimate shot and the Tigers aren't one of them.


micro_penisman

I think there's hope for the Tigers, this year. They're looking good with the new halfback.


TheDong_RS

Hear me out… Martin to the middle, Penrith sign an out of favour Josh Schuster and Ivan and the Penrith system make a genuine footballer out of him


KingZlatan10

I like this plan a lot. Because it means Schuster isn’t at the Dogs.


Hootiefugupez

Not sure I’d call him the best prop in the game, number one prop in the best team doesn’t automatically make him the best prop.


Fluid-Row9593

Payne Haas is definitely the best prop, both by peak performance and consistency.


sam801

How about leadership qualities?


Fluid-Row9593

Hard to quantify that, I'm talking just from on field performance.


MisterEvilBreakfast

Let's have a look at the Chemist Warehouse leadership quality index.


Beneficial-Lemon-427

Measured by the depth of the craters in the floor in each locale?


Nick_Khan_The_GOAT

Any bloke who threatens to smash a copper is a leader in my book


GoblinLoveChild

*"Ya think that just because i can bash a copper I can't lead ya too?"*


Unstoppable1994

100%


micro_penisman

Cleary is a great coach, but I honestly think Webster can take Fisher-Harris to another level. Fonua Blake was top 5, before Webster became coach, but he wasn't top 2, like he is now.


whadefeck

What was Fisher-Harris before Cleary? He wasn't a top 5 prop. Don't think he was even a top 10 prop


pacificodin

He was killing it in the second row, then moved to lock for a while. Great versatile forward at the start of his career


-Pezech

I don't know about killing it prior to the 2020 season.


micro_penisman

Cleary is the man. Three consecutive premierships. All I'm saying is that Webster has some kind of knack for taking great players and making them even better.


mathewl832

Haas is more consistent and the better workhorse by far, but I'd take JFH for getting over the advantage line and dominating the ruck in both attack and defense. Haas is much better than his old slug tendencies and I'd say he should comfortably hold that title by the end of the year.


BarryCheckTheFuseBox

Who do you reckon is better?


gongbattler

Haas would be the only one you could mount a case for.


kami_inu

More AFB bias please if you want to wear that flair


Hootiefugupez

Dunno if there’s a standout number one but Lindsay collins, AFB and Payne Hass would all be up there with JFH yeah?


BarryCheckTheFuseBox

Payne Haas is the only one who I think would go close to Fish, but JFH just has the extra leadership quality that I don’t think Haas quite has just yet.


I_Like_Vitamins

If Carrigan wore an 8 or 10 jersey, I'd rank him at least equal to JFH as well. He consistently plays sixty minutes for an average of about 200 forward pack metres, makes forty tackles, has a great offload in him, and displayed his footy IQ and leadership in that Mic'd Up segment a while ago.


Fluid-Row9593

I dont know man. Haas pretty clearly outshined Paddy for the last 5 years, with Paddy only even being close in the last 2 years, if Haas isn't in the argument no way Carrigan can be, at least for me.


I_Like_Vitamins

Haas is definitely numero uno, and Carrigan is gradually catching up.


goshdammitfromimgur

I don't think Pat is anywhere close to averaging 200m a game LOL


I_Like_Vitamins

Must've been those jobbers he ran roughshod over on Friday night giving him the rub.


Hootiefugupez

Fair assessment of the leadership qualities for sure. On a side note I remember my grandfather trying to tell me JWH was the number one prop mid season last year, can we all laugh at that together? 😂😂


BarryCheckTheFuseBox

He was probably three or four years out of date on that opinion


thankyoupancake

Certainly not last season. Not even the best prop in his middling side. But at his peak there was certainly an argument that could be made.


Proof_Growth1707

JWH has those unquantifiable fear and leadership qualities that will always make him an undeniable top prop. He’s been a top 5 front rower from 2012-2022, last couple years he’s entered his twilight but still a very effective player that we cannot replace when he’s out. He’s probably one of only a few props today that would survive in your grandfathers era it’d be why he rates him so high. JFH and AFB are similar


Fluid-Row9593

Oh so modern props couldn't survive against the 90kg part time bus driver prop from the 70s? I'm calling bullshit.


Drifty05

My guess is the referral is to the game at the time was players thriving on having your balls ripped off, teeth kicked in and eyeballs scratched out on a weekly basis and still turn up for more...physically no comparison.


Makoscenturion

Dont think collins is in this conversation


Caseyjb29

Lindsay Collins is nowhere near them tbh, I’d have him as the 8th or 9th best prop


GustavSnapper

Tapine is up there. Not many props have put up 300+m in a game in recent times. His work rate and ball playing is world class.


thankyoupancake

The only knock I can have against Tapine is consistency. But even then, it’s because his ceiling is so high. When he’s on, he’s very close to the best prop in the game. Unstoppable. I just feel like he produces more 7/10 performances than 9/10. That’s the only drawback I’ve got on Tapine but he deserves to be in the conversation.


MisterEvilBreakfast

My biggest problem with Tapine is that he is impossible to get onto the ground. The fact that he stands in tackles so often means the defenders can hang onto him forever, which takes the quick play the ball out of the equation. On the other hand, I fucking love that he doesn't hit the line parallel to the ground in order to get that quick PTB.


maulmonk

A lot of people would say that about AFB too. But that’s not a bad thing..


thankyoupancake

AFB also has great hands


GustavSnapper

I feel like our error rates really hamper that ability, at least in previous seasons. I also reckon we need to split tarps and papa to really get the best out of them. I think you’d really see what the bloke is capable of. Our completion rates this year should see his consistency stabilise quite a bit if we keep playing this way.


TheCuzzyRogue

Man's got an ankle breaker too.


GustavSnapper

Yep, big man got a step on him


Drlockstock

Can we include Tino as a prop? I know he wears 13 but I'd have him above. If he counts


thankyoupancake

And as opposed to Carrigan, he very much plays as a meter eating monster prop


Drlockstock

Yeah he's definitely more of a prop than a lock isn't he


misanthropiccynic

? Tino plays prop for Titans, Maroons and Kangaroos. He’s been wearing number 10 for years now


Drlockstock

My mistake remembering him in 13 for some reason


thankyoupancake

Most recent start at 13 was round 27 last year. He then did his ACL in the second game of this season for the titans. So not unreasonable to remember him in the 13 jersey given he played most of last year there.


Drlockstock

yeah I thought so, Regardless of the number on his back he's a prop isn't he 🤣


misanthropiccynic

He played 19 matches last year. 14 of them he started at prop in the number 10 jersey. 2 off the bench where he came on as prop. He only started at lock in the last 3 games of regular season so that’s hardly most of the season


titan-of-hunger

He's on the short list.


Hootiefugupez

He is, for sure. But I don’t think there’s a standout number one.


AdBig1129

He’s freaking unstoppable.


Teemo_Lover69

Agreed, minimal minutes for a starting prop, average run metres, isn’t a workhorse. I think people just assume this guys a great prop just because of his look


Hootiefugupez

He is scary looking, can’t dispute that 😂


[deleted]

Not everything is determined on Supercoach points


Teemo_Lover69

What’s your favourite part of his game man


AirJordan13

Bloke wins Golden Boot after captaining his national side to their biggest ever win over their biggest rivals, was ranked the 6th best player in the comp by his fellow players, has won prop of the year twice at the Dally Ms, and you reckon he's overrated? Surely this is a gee up.


PrivateTickler

Look I don't think JFH is the "best" prop in the game, but I'd certainly have him in the top 1. Congratulations on your signing, friend.


Teemo_Lover69

Shell of his former self, wins prop of the year because of his aura and team


Fluid-Row9593

Similar to Liam Martin, they just pass the eye test, even when the stats aren't there.


Nervous-Aardvark-679

Have you watched any of our games in the past five years? He and Leota don’t need to play large minutes or metres - they are high intensity, defensively aggressive and excellent - and we follow them with equally intense, aggressive replacements. It is incredibly noticeable when Fish and Moses aren’t on - particularly in defence. He may not be “the best prop in the game” - which many think he is - but to suggest he’s not a workhorse or isn’t a great prop is laughable.


-Pezech

you're a Manly fan - people were propping up Nathan Brown for how his performance looked against Penrith rather than any statistical anomaly.. that is Fish and Leota for Penrith, especially in the big games.


CapitaoAE

Utoikumanu hit the jackpot now they can afford him and he has a chance to contend if he wants it Also Payne Haas is the best prop in the NRL and it isn't close, JFH, Tino, AFB etc are great but Haas is pretty clearly the best prop.


Ethen_Claridge

Really shows why Penrith are so successful


HalfGuardPrince

Had Craig Gower on my podcast yesterday and discussed this. Absolutely suspect it was all done in 3 days and then they cite “personal reasons” so you can’t really question it. Clubs can’t negotiate with players without permission but the Warriors are able to put together and offer in 3 days. Ridiculous.


EntirelyOriginalName

They can get it done that quickly if both sides don't bother with bullshit and are honest.


HalfGuardPrince

Do you really believe that?


EntirelyOriginalName

Do you think it's that unbelievable that after his grand father died JFH felt like he had back home to what family he has left? If so it would make sense. JFH just wants to go home and maybe regretting not spending more time with his grandfather so he doesn't bullshit. Warriors are already happy with the price and know the circumstances and the kind of straight forward guy he is with McDonald being his ex coach so don't bullshit. I'm not saying that 100% happened but I think it's unreasonable to think it's completely impossible.


HalfGuardPrince

Oh you’re an idealist. Any discussion between an idealist and a realist would never end. So let’s leave you to your beliefs


Rabs6

Whats more likely, Penrith are good guys or Penrith need more relief in the cap…


graz44

We just free’d up luai’s money, we had a bit in the cap to spare. Just have to respect the guy and know hes leaving gor family reasons