'We needed that older figure': Inside Penrith's leadership evolution

James Tamou fell short of a premiership during his four-year stint at Penrith but the former Test prop helped develop a group of leaders who are now having an influence across the game.

While Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo are co-captains of the Panthers team in Sunday’s grand final against Melbourne, many have wondered whether coach Ivan Cleary has created a leadership academy at Penrith.  

Among the leaders to have emerged from the squad during Penrith's last five years of success are:

• Nathan Cleary - co-captained the Panthers to three premierships and would have skippered NSW if fit for Origin;
• Isaah Yeo - Penrith co-captain with Cleary since 2021, vice-captain of the Kangaroos at the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 NSW team;   
• James Fisher-Harris - captained the Kiwis in last year’s Pacific Championships triumph;
• Stephen Crichton - captain of the Bulldogs and a member of the NSW leadership group;
• Api Koroisau - captain of Wests Tigers;
• Viliame Kikau - captained Fiji at the 2022 World Cup, and;
• Jarome Luai - joined the NSW leadership group and is expected to captain Samoa on the upcoming tour to England.

Cleary spoke of Tamou’s role as he prepares to lead Penrith to an historic four-peat against the Storm – a feat that hasn’t been achieved since St George won 11 consecutive premierships from 1956-to-1966.

Tamou, who retired at the end of last season after a stint with Wests Tigers, joined the Panthers in 2017 from North Queensland and was appointed captain after Ivan Cleary took over as coach in 2019.

The New Zealand-born front-rower is 10 years older than Nathan Cleary, Luai and Brian To’o and had played at the highest level, while being a member of the Cowboys team that won the 2015 premiership.

The former Kangaroos and Blues front-rower was Penrith captain in the 2020 grand final loss to Melbourne – the first of five consecutive appearances in the premiership decider for the club.

“He obviously bought a lot of experience and had won a grand final,” Nathan Cleary said.

“He was a great leader for us at the time, we sort of needed that older figure that could set a good example, and he did that.

“It gave us younger guys time to grow into that leadership role, so I have got to give massive credit to Jimmy Tamou’s position in all of this and what we have been able to do since.”

Fisher-Harris, who is returning home to New Zealand to join the Warriors after the grand final, said he had also learned from Tamou.

“I was 21 or 22 when he came down here, so I was still young - most of us were,” Fisher-Harris said. “I think [the importance of] a good balance was the main thing I learned from Jimmy.

“When we're on, we're on, and when we're off, we're off. We can have fun. There is a time and space for everything. We've all learned a lot over the years.”

Fisher-Harris had captained junior teams, but he said that was mainly through “natural ability” as a player rather than leadership qualities.

He has developed his leadership style from observing team-mates with the Panthers and Kiwis.

“I’ve definitely grown into it and I think I've been a student of it. I've actually wanted to learn about it,” said Fisher-Harris, who won the 2023 IRL Golden Boot award as International Player of the Year.

“I get pieces from different people but I'm not a well-rounded speaker as some of the other boys. It is just more off the field leadership really for me, and work ethic-type stuff like that and what not to do.

“Clez and Yeoey have been good for me, as well as Jimmy Tamou, but there have been a lot of boys over the years, like Jesse Bromwich in Kiwis camp, and Zane Tetevano was another one for me.

“I could name of lot of leaders who have influenced me but for me it is mainly about work effort. You can’t cut corners, that’s how I am.    

“It's been really pleasing over the past couple of years to see success from my leadership, and just backing myself in and doing it in my own way.”

Cleary said none of the Panthers players had considered themselves as a future captain and had all developed their leadership skills together.

“In that regard there was no hierarchy, everyone was able to speak, and I probably have to give a big wrap to dad; he just created a safe environment where people were allowed to be themselves, were allowed to speak up and were encouraged to do so,” he said.

“I think that just naturally brings out leaders and I think a lot of people have natural leadership qualities, it is just whether they want to bring it to the table.

“Maybe if you have a lot of older guys or a hierarchy then you are less likely to do it, but we all sort of learned together and encouraged each other.

“Obviously you now see people like Api and Critta going to other clubs, and they have just gone to another level because they have a bit more responsibility, but they were definitely doing that at our club. It has been good to watch.”