James Fisher-Harris is just 80 minutes away from finishing an NRL career that started all the way back on March 5, 2016.
Since then, he’s claimed three Premiership rings, played more than 200 NRL games for the Penrith club, won the Golden Boot, the Merv Cartwright Medal and become a mainstay of the New Zealand side.
To use the word glittering when discussing his career would be an understatement.
For his time at Penrith to end in another Grand Final? That’s the stuff of Hollywood scriptwriters, though those scriptwriters are well attuned to delivering history-making Panthers moments.
“It’s pretty good that this is my last – making another Grand Final,” Fisher-Harris told the Weekender.
“It’s sort of sunk in that it’s my last game, but it does feel like just another week in some ways to be honest.”
As his time at Penrith nears its conclusion, it means Fisher-Harris’ desire to head home to his native New Zealand is getting closer, as is joining the Warriors for 2025.
But getting ahead of himself? Not in his nature.
“I’m just where my feet are at the moment,” he said.
“I’m just making the most of it, you can’t just be sad and sulking around the whole time. I’m enjoying it.”
Meantime, Fisher-Harris admits he feels sorry for his Kiwis teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona, who will miss Sunday’s Grand Final after being suspended by the NRL judiciary.
“It was a bit of a harsh one for him,” he said.
“Five weeks is a long time to be suspended. As a Kiwi teammate I feel sorry for him, but at the same time Lindsay Collins didn’t get to play much at all as a result of the hit.”
Fisher-Harris doesn’t expect Melbourne to be any less dangerous with Asofa-Solomona out.
“They’re there for a reason, they’ve been the best team all year,” he said.
“It’ll change a little bit but at the same time they’re there for a reason.”
There is one other factor driving Penrith’s motivation this weekend: the 2020 loss to the Storm in the decider, and this Sunday’s opportunity for a slice of revenge.
“We were a young team then but it’s what we learned from that game that has kept us going and been a part of what we’ve been able to do,” he said.
But will it be mentioned in the lead-up, among the players who remain from that devastating October night four years ago?
“Maybe,” he says with a smile.
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.