James Fisher-Harris set rugby league circles ablaze on Wednesday afternoon when his signing with the Warriors was announced.
In the social media age, it's very rare that a signing of this stature is announced without days or even weeks of speculation.
Congratulations to both the Warriors and Panthers for allowing this process to play out behind closed doors.
JFH has been one of the game's elite props in the past few seasons. Top five certainly, I could even be talked into naming him in the top three.
If you wanted to even put him second behind Payne Haas, that would be fine with me.
His loss will be felt by Penrith. Perhaps even more than the list of superstars they've lost recently.
As good as he is on the park, and that is very good, he is a leader of the club and sets the example. He will be missed.
rugby league moves on quickly though and the Panthers have already been linked with a host of replacements.
I've tried to keep these as players that could be genuinely be available. Obviously if you're Penrith you want to read the names Joseph Tapine, Payne Haas or the like, but we're talking a limited, available player pool.
Below are the five I'd offer up as potential replacements for James Fisher-Harris:
Honorable Mention: Nelson Asofa-Solomona
If the Storm big man were to be made available, I have no doubt that Ivan Cleary would be very tempted.
Given he is back in the Storm setup though, I just can't see Craig Bellamy letting him go at this stage.
The Tigers giant has been rapidly linked to the club and supposedly identified as their main target.
Utoikamunu has a series of "get out" clauses in his contract. Reportedly if he plays either three, or three more Origins, he will became a free agent.
Much more likely though is the chance he'll become a "free agent" via the Tigers failing to make the Finals this year.
This makes a potential move risky for the Panthers though.
If the Tigers are in the fight, they won't even be able to talk to big Stefano until the Tigers can't make Finals.
Although right now, to be brutally honest, the Tigers look a long way from Finals Footy, you won't know officially for many months.
I have no doubt that if the Tigers crash out again in 2024 than the NSW Origin prop's attention could be swayed.
Why wouldn't it? A chance to play for the mighty Panthers. To replace a club legend no less.
He is the very obvious replacement for very obvious reasons. The first being available and the second of course being that he's a brilliant middle forward.
At only 23 year's of age (he'd be 24 by the time he would join Penrith) Utoikamanu's best footy is very much still ahead of him!
Wiremu Greig is too good to be playing in NSW Cup. Way too good!
I can hear people in the comments already - "why would you replace JFH with someone so far from his stature?", as if it's easy to find someone anywhere near his stature on such short notice.
Greig is 24. He's also 192 cms and 124 kilos of hulking muscle and I thought was one of the Eels best middles last season.
He is screaming out for an opportunity and I'm sure will be a name we are talking about in 12 months time.
Greig obviously isn't a priority in the Eels set up. I'm not having a go there by any stretch. With the names, and money, the Eels have on their books elsewhere, why would he be?
You add a full, concentrated off-season though under Ivan Cleary and I guarantee you we're talking about a completely different player.
If the Panthers want to source a cost effective option and bank on potential, Greig is their man.
Off contract at the end of 2025, I doubt the Eels would slam the door shut on a potential early move if the opportunity was there.
Yes I fully understand his resume doesn't match others on here but in terms of pure potential, and size, Greig is a frightening prospect.
If the Panthers are looking for a ready made and short-term replacement, they could do worse than Matt Lodge.
For the purpose of this we'll stick purely to footballing ability.
Lodge was linked to an Origin call up not that long ago. Truth be told, if it was based purely on rugby league form at the time, he's probably running out in sky blue.
Lodge is 28, off contract and cheap.
He's also looking for an opportunity. I can't imagine Manly will be able to re-sign him given the top ended contracts on their books.
Lodge moving to Penrith would finally see his potential realised.
At 28, it would be a shorter term option than others listed here but given the talent in the ranks in the Panthers Flegg and younger teams, the next generational talents are never far away.
Lodge could make the short move across Sydney and do the job for the Panthers. I have no doubt of this.
At his best, Lodge is a real talent. I don't know if "consistent" is a word I'd use to describe his recent seasons but his best games are scary good.
I do get the feeling Lodge wouldn't be option one or two but he very might remain an option all the same. A good one at that!
With Addin Fonua-Blake arriving at the Sharks in 2025, the competition for spots in that pack is heating up.
Cronulla have already re-signed Braden Hamlin-Uele, Toby Rudolf, Jesse Colquhoun and Tuku Hau Tapuha while Jack Williams re-signing looks close.
Meanwhile Royce Hunt and Tom Hazelton are also in the running for middle spots with the lock due of Dale Finucane, Cam McInnes and recent bench forward Sifa Talakai.
I understand Kaufusi has a "mutual option" for 2025 but ultimately if the club isn't on board, I'm not sure how mutual that would be.
As it stands AFB, BHU, Rudolf and Williams have four spots sewn up while McInnes is the obvious 13. Hazelton and Talakai are undroppable right now.
That leaves Kaufusi as the odd man out.
His form at the Sharks has been ok. Solid. I may even be undervaluing him there.
The fact remains he has talent. He store the Roosters to shreds last year, which is the game that convinced me he could be a upper tier prop.
Availability the best ability and I just can't see the Sharks standing in his way. I also cannot see Kaufusi turning down that opportunity knowing what is arriving in the Shire.
We absolutely have not seen the best of Kausufi yet. We may see it at the foot of the mountains.
Let's get a little bit crazy here, but please hear me out.
David Fifita has a clause that he can activate to leave the club prior to Round 10.
Imagine if Fifita's talents head south and to the back to back to back Premiers? Frightening!
Jahrome Luai joins James Fisher-Harris are both leaving the club. Surely Fifita fits in, comfortably, under their combined wage totals?
The thinking here would be to shift Liam Martin into the middle with Fifita taking up an edge spot. You could even shift Scott Sorenson, if required.
Martin could be a premier middle while David Fifita is ... well, David Fifita!
Or maybe you just made the huge call and turn Fifita into a Payne Haas style middle forward.
He certainly has the size and ability. It would just be a shame to lose that weaponry out wide.
It is far from confirmed that Fifita will activate his clause or not but I'd have to imagine if the Premiers were looking at him that Fifita wouldn't at least be tempted.