Panthers ‘bug’ prop James Fisher-Harris to determine if he is vocal enough on field
Unsure if one of their key men was vocal enough to be a potential captain, the Panthers resorted to an unusual method to get their answer.
NRL
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IT was the day a Sydney NRL club bugged one of their own players.
Panthers forward James Fisher-Harris was covertly wired up during an NRL match late last year to secretly determine whether he was vocal enough to be considered Penrith’s next captain.
Fisher-Harris wore the microphone during Penrith’s 54-10 win over Newcastle at Panthers Stadium in round 25.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary is now considering three potential captains for this year — Fisher-Harris, incumbent James Tamou and halfback Nathan Cleary. All three could be named in a leadership team.
Fisher-Harris, 24, is highly respected as a player but officials felt he may be too quiet to lead an NRL team.
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So the Panthers fitted Fisher-Harris with a device before the Knights game with the club’s coaching staff – including assistant coaches Cameron Ciraldo and Peter Wallace – understood to have listened to his on-field communication during the game.
The club was stunned at Fisher-Harris’ authoritative on-field talk and his captaincy prospects skyrocketed.
It is understood the microphone was strapped under Fisher-Harris’ jumper.
“He is just about the club’s best forward and had a super season in 2019,” said one well-placed source.
“He leads by example so the club thought he might be the man so they wanted to see.”
Fisher-Harris was voted Penrith’s best last season, playing all 24 matches, averaging 77 minutes a game and averaging 107 metres and 37.6 tackles a match.
The NRL allows GPS tracking devices but won’t allow players to wear non-standard equipment.
Penrith didn’t inform the NRL about Fisher-Harris’ device but the club isn’t facing a sanction.
Ivan Cleary is expected to name his skipper later this month.
Cleary may retain Tamou — who comes off contract after this season — or opt for the younger Nathan Cleary, 22, and Fisher-Harris.
James Maloney — now playing with French club Catalans — was a co-captain last season with Tamou.
Nathan Cleary will lead Penrith at some point but it’s not yet known whether that will be this year or from 2021.
Fisher-Harris wasn’t selected to play the NRL Nines in Perth with veteran centre Dean Whare being named captain.
In a media interview last year, teammate Isaah Yeo said: “He (Fisher-Harris) was our best by head and shoulders — he was phenomenal last season.”
Wallace is now coaching Penrith’s Canterbury Cup side with former Manly coach Trent Barrett Penrith’s new assistant.