NRL 2022: James Fisher-Harris defends Eels comments, Tigers act on Api Koroisau sledges
Have you been offended by Penrith’s premiership party? Well, don’t be bitter. Be better. Because what they’ve said in the wake of their back-to-back triumphs is fact, writes Fatima Kdouh.
There’s a fine line between arrogance and confidence, and the Penrith Panthers have not crossed it.
Forward James Fisher-Harris has been pilloried as ‘classless’ for his taunts of Parramatta after Sunday’s grand final win.
Fisher-Harris’ declaration that ‘this is the greatest ever Panthers team’ was slammed as disrespectful to the club’s past players.
It wasn’t disrespectful, it was a fact. Backed up by 1991 premiership winning captain Greg Alexander.
His ‘Parra are our sons’ taunt, and the ‘we hate Parra’ chant that ensued wasn’t classless, it spoke to the thing that rugby league thrives and survives off – tribalism.
Penrith hate Parramatta.
It’s a disdain entrenched in the decades of the club playing second fiddle to ‘big brother’, the Eels.
Penrith were forced to endure similar antics after losing to Melbourne in the 2020 grand final.
A number of Storm players mocked the Panthers for being from ‘the area’ – a reference to being from western Sydney.
To understand the Panthers, you have to understand what it means to be from ‘the area.’
Historically it was a term drenched in negative connotations and stereotypes about people from western Sydney.
But the Panthers, who are filled with boys from ‘the area’ have played a pivotal role in revolutionising the term into a badge of honour.
The majority of Penrith players have been able to overcome being born into socio-economic disadvantage and the odds stacked against them. That should be celebrated.
They‘re proud of who they are, where they come from and aren’t afraid to express it. They should not be admonished for doing so.
Does the fact they express themselves in gangster rap, ski goggles, aviator sunglasses, and cigars smoked in the sheds, make them bad winners? Bad people even?
Not a chance.
Bad winners don’t spend 45 minutes after the full-time siren meeting and taking selfies with fans after home games.
Players like Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o spend countless hours helping to run footy clinics for local kids over the summer.
The Polynesian players in the side send money to support their families back in the Islands.
As people, you would be hard pressed to find a more well-mannered and respectful group of men.
The Panthers are young men, who are very good at their jobs, living their best lives and winning premierships along the way.
Let them live.
The NRL is now more than just a professional sport, it’s in the entertainment business.
But still, at its core, rugby league is a working class game.
And the Panthers, with all their pomp and western Sydney pride, are its working class heroes.
‘PARRA ARE OUR SONS’: HOW PANTHER JUSTIFIED EELS SLEDGE
– By Michael Carayannis
James Fisher-Harris has defended himself against criticism over declaring “Parra are our sons” and his claims the current Penrith side is the greatest in the club’s history following back-to-back NRL premierships.
Fisher-Harris took to centre stage at Penrith’s fan day at BlueBet Stadium on Monday, telling Panthers fans “Parra are our sons. Right here, right now, that’s fact.”
The crowd responded by chanting “we hate Parra” as Fisher-Harris waved them on.
In the same speech, he elevated the current roster above the premiership-winning sides of 1991 and 2003.
“Everyone gone before us – much respect – but we are the greatest Panthers team ever,” Fisher-Harris said.
But on Tuesday, Fisher-Harris took to social media to clarify his statements.
“I’m cool with the players & the area is not bad, just tryna keep the rivalry alive!” Fisher-Harris wrote on Instagram about Parramatta, who the Panthers beat 28-12 in Sunday night’s grand final at Accor Stadium.
“I hold the up most (sic) respect for those players gone before me/us so don’t get it twisted.”
His claims about the current team’s greatness has drawn the ire of some pundits.
But not 1991 premiership-winning Penrith captain Greg Alexander, who earlier backed Fisher-Harris, declaring the current group of Panthers as the club’s greatest team.
He is also on the club’s board and took no offence to Fisher-Harris’s comments.
When asked if the current Panthers were the greatest team ever Alexander replied.
“Yes,” he said on his SEN breakfast show. “I do. The fact they’ve made three grand finals and they’ve done something no other Penrith side has done in winning back-to-back grand finals.
“I would say yes they are. I don’t find anything disrespectful about what James Fisher-Harris said.
“It’s fine by me. That is not being arrogant (from Fisher-Harris). If I rang a former Penrith player that played in grand finals and said ‘did you hear what James Fisher-Harris said?’. If someone got offended by that I’d be stunned.
“No Penrith team has achieved what they’ve done. I don’t think they will be walking down the streets saying they are the greatest team ever.
“But James Fisher-Harris after 30 beers and no sleep has every right to say that.”
TIGERS OFFICIALS ACT ON API SLEDGE
Concerned Wests Tigers officials have reached out to Api Koroisau after the club’s star recruit poked fun at the Tigers’ premiership chances.
Koroisau will join the Tigers on a three-year deal from next season but had a little swipe at the club when he took to stage as part of Penrith’s grand final celebrations on Monday.
“To go out on a high like that is pretty incredible … and we’ll probably do the same thing at the Tigers,” Koroisau laughed.
That has left Tigers fans fuming.
Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis confirmed the club had made contact with Koroisau.
“We reached out to Api Koroisau’s manager and the matter has been dealt with privately,” Hagipantelis said on SEN.
“Api is a thoroughly decent person and if he had his time again I think he’d rethink those comments.”
Koroisau’s teammates have also been sledging the star hooker about his impending move.
In a video posted to social media, someone was heard telling Koroisau: “Last ones, don’t get those at the Tigers,” they told him as he showed off his third premiership ring.
"Don't get those at the Tigers" 😠pic.twitter.com/CmHGfaBOd8
— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) October 2, 2022
“We’re not going to put a lot of stock in it. Spur of the moment and emotions play a large part. And perhaps alcohol.
We’re very keen on welcoming him to the club as soon as his World Cup commitments end.”
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