Softer side to James Fisher-Harris revealed as Ivan Cleary admits to hidden motivation behind grand final win

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has revealed the role his departing players had in the club's grand final victory as the softer side of James Fisher-Harris was unveiled at full-time.

The intimidating prop will be in a different jersey next year after signing with the Warriors.

Fisher-Harris was his reliable self during the decider, running for 158 metres as the Penrith forward pack monstered Melbourne's.

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The 28-year-old has forged a scary persona on the field during Penrith's four-peat, but off the field is seen as a gentle giant.

As Fisher-Harris spent time with his family in the changeroom, his fiancée Natalie Apikotoa gave an insight into the man off the field

"He's a real family man," she told 9news.

"I'm super proud of him and what he does, not just for his team but our family too, I guess that's why he made that ultimate decision earlier this year was for our family.

"I'm pretty proud of him, it's a pretty special team to be apart of."

After Fisher-Harris conducted an extensive interview with Nine's post-match coverage, former Panthers general manager Phil Gould declared "that's the most I've ever heard him speak".

"He's a very special character, right from the first time he came to the club as a teenager," he continued.

"He came over extremely tough, he had two left feet and two left hands. He didn't know much about the game but he would train, and he ran, and he was tough and the story goes that when they were beaten in the 2020 grand final he actually went and trained two days later and virtually everyone followed him back into the gym. He was single-minded about overcoming that disappointment and winning a premiership."

Speaking to 9news, Fisher-Harris thanked the club for taking him in at a young age.

"I just needed an opportunity when I was younger," he said.

"I was just up at the North of New Zealand ... this is my dream. They gave me an opportunity and the rest is history."

Fisher-Harris is the only player departing with Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva the other notable exits.

Cleary explained that did play into the side's mindset coming into a decider.

"It became more than just about winning a grand final it was more about who we play for and obviously with the boys leaving ... we went down that track. I don't know whether it worked or not but something worked, they found something special," he said.