The Penrith Panthers are set to bid farewell to two key players, Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris, at the season’s end, adding to the extensive roster turnover the NRL powerhouse has experienced. Since their 2020 grand final defeat to the Melbourne Storm, Penrith has seen a total of 17 players depart, many of whom have gone on to achieve prominence at other clubs.
Andrew Johns has voiced concerns over the lack of recognition for clubs nurturing their own talent, advocating for special consideration for players developed through a team’s junior system. He highlights the plight of Penrith, where players like Viliame Kikau, Spencer Leniu, and Stephen Crichton, among others, have flourished but then moved on, leaving a void in both star power and depth.
Fisher-Harris, a three-time premiership winner, is emblematic of this trend, having progressed through Penrith’s junior ranks before recently announcing his departure to the Warriors. Johns laments the dismantling of what could have been a dominant Penrith team, suggesting they could have secured multiple titles had they retained their core group.
The issue extends beyond losing marquee players; it’s also about losing the depth and potential of promising talents nurtured within the club’s system. Johns argues that clubs like Penrith shouldn’t be penalized for their investment in developing young talent, emphasizing the need for fairness in recognizing and retaining homegrown players.
When asked about the importance of talent distribution across the league, Johns acknowledges the complexity but maintains that clubs like Penrith shouldn’t bear the brunt of player exodus, given the substantial investment in their development pathways.