‘Clean break’: How bombshell NRL switch got done in 72 hours and why Panthers allowed it

Champion Penrith Panthers prop James Fisher-Harris has been granted a release from the remaining two years of his deal to join the New Zealand Warriors in a bombshell switch.

Fisher-Harris, a New Zealand international, will link up with the Warriors in 2025 on a four-year deal.

The forward was granted permission to join the Warriors after requesting a return to his home nation on compassionate grounds so he could be closer to his family.

Speaking on NRL360 on Wednesday night, The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis revealed how quickly he became a New Zealand player.

Fisher-Harris’ management reportedly reached out to the Warriors chief executive on Sunday night, prompting him to get on a flight to seal the deal on Wednesday.

“We’ve seen this situation play out so many times where there’s a fallout between the club and the player, but that didn’t happen in this situation,” Carayannis said.

“It’s a clean cut break, they haven’t asked for a transfer fee, they didn’t engage for a player swap, they didn’t ask for anything.

“They just said James Fisher-Harris, thanks for your service and good luck… I think this has been sitting with James for the last couple of weeks.