Only the good players can stop James Fisher-Harris on the footy field, but only the great ones can make him cry. The famously stoic Penrith prop admits he had a rare moment of emotional release ahead of his 200th NRL game as he watched video well-wishes sent in from around the NRL.

The Panthers organised for the Fisher-Harris family to record messages for Saturday's milestone, but also reached out to ex-Panthers teammate Viliame Kikau, Melbourne hard man Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Canberra prop Joe Tapine. Three-time premiership-winner Fisher-Harris has made a career out of fronting up for tough carries and never backing down from rival players.

But when those walls came down ahead of the 18-12 defeat of Gold Coast, Fisher-Harris took a moment to reflect. A message from Tapine, Fisher-Harris' front-row partner in crime for New Zealand, was particularly moving.

Respect Among Rivals

"It was just a respect thing," Fisher-Harris explained of his uncharacteristically emotional response. "Especially when you go at each other and are rivals and stuff like that. But when they talk like that, it's just a respect thing. (Tapine) a really good friend of mine, especially in the Kiwis space.

"It was pretty special. I could feel the love."

Fisher-Harris and Tapine have been playing for New Zealand together since 2016 and were the engine room in last year's Pacific Test triumph over Australia. Kiwis captain Fisher-Harris won the Golden Boot Award as the world's best international player after last year's post-season series, though Tapine could just as easily have taken the gong home. The pair, already two of the NRL's best props, sharpened each other up en route to a famous series win.

The Impact of Friendship

"We just want to help each other out," Fisher-Harris said. "I'm an open book and I think he is as well. Our games are different, he's a bit more skillful than me. But we feed off each other."

Pending results this finals series, Fisher-Harris could have as few as two games left before leaving the Panthers to join the Warriors next season. The imminent farewell to the club that scouted him as a teen, and subsequent return home, contributed to an emotional week for the prop.

"I think it's just a bit of everything," he said. "It's no secret that I'm leaving and reflecting on stuff. It was good messages from genuine people and people that I love. It was pretty special."

A New Battle: Leniu Returns

Fisher-Harris will do battle with another of the NRL's elite prop forwards for the first time when the Panthers host the Sydney Roosters in the first week of the finals. Former Panthers teammate Spencer Leniu had been suspended for his racial slur when the sides met in round four, but is set to make his first appearance against Penrith since leaving at the end of 2023.

"It'll be good to play against him," Fisher-Harris said. "It's good to see him back and playing good footy."

Jasper Bruce - AAP