Mitchell Moses was reportedly never going anywhere.
Eels fans were on Tuesday night celebrating news the star playmaker has signed a monster contract extension to remain at the club — despite the Tigers’ public pursuit of the 28-year-old.
However, a conspiracy theory has emerged that Moses and his representatives “conned” the Eels and Tigers during the rollercoaster contract negotiations.
It emerged on Tuesday Moses rejected an insane four-year, $5.2 million ($1.3 million per-year) offer from his junior club and has instead made a decision to re-committ to the Eels.
Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
The Sydney Morning Herald first reported the deal was all-but completed when the Eels upgraded their offer to $1.25 million per-season — making him one of the highest paid players in the competition alongside Kalyn Ponga, David Fifita, Ben Hunt and Daly Cherry-Evans.
Moses has been one of the hottest available properties since he went on the market as a free agent, but was adamant throughout the saga that he was motivated by winning premierships.
It’s why there were murmurings on Wednesday that the Eels and Tigers were both played.
Channel 7’s Michelle Bishop said it appears likely that Moses was never going to leave the Eels, despite the months of rumours surrounding a potential move to his former club.
“Were the Eels conned? Was he ever really going anywhere? Was this actually a thing? It’s brutal, but I’m just not sure,” Bishop said on SEN Breakfast.
“It just dragged on and on and on and on. The Bulldogs were keen early on but dropped off early.”
She went on to say the rich offer to Moses may have been too much.
“What irks me, and I do love Mitchell Moses and I think he’s a great player, but more than Nathan Cleary?” she said.
“Kalyn Ponga, is OK, because he’s transitioning and all the rest of it. But more than Nathan Cleary? Does he bring as much to the table?”
Moses guided the Eels to a grand final last year and has been seen as the club’s best halfback since Peter Sterling.
The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie also believes Moses was never going to leave the Eels.
“I think that’s been the case from the very beginning,” he told Sky Sports Radio on Wednesday.
“I never really thought he was going. The Tigers’ deal was significantly higher than the Eels financially for Moses, but every time I made a call around this ongoing situation, the words I was hearing is that he wants to win a premiership and I think he realises that’s more likely at Parramatta than the Wests Tigers.
“I think the mail has been that he would stay at Parramatta for three months now.”
Speaking on Triple M’s The Rush Hour with Gus, Jude & Wendell on Tuesday, Sailor said Moses had made the right call.
“At this stage of his career, he’s 28, 29, he doesn’t need to go back to the Tigers,” Sailor said.
“(The Eels) are more of a chance (to win a premiership) but I don’t think they will.”
Gus Worland said: “It’s great for the Eels, shattering for the Tigers fans who are trying to build something with Sheens, Farah and Benji.”
Moses has had a huge week, revealing his engagement to long-term partner Bri Gardoni, after he missed the birth of their daughter in September as he was playing in the Eels’ preliminary final win over the Cowboys.
It had been a three-way battle for the Lebanon half and one-Origin wonder but after the Bulldogs pulled out of the running, it left just Moses’ old club and his current club.
Tigers half and Moses’ great friend Luke Brooks had been attempting to lure him back to the club, he revealed in late January.
“I’ve spoken to him a couple times and told him what the vibe was like and how much it has changed – I’ve been selling the place to him,” Brooks said.
“I’m not too sure what his thoughts are, but I think he’d be a great addition to our side and I’d love to play with him again.
“I think when we came in (to the NRL) we were very young.
“We sort of spoke before about how we would like to have a chance to play together again.
“Whether that’s now or not, I don’t know, but hopefully he makes a decision soon, the one that’s best for him.”
Moses also said a fortnight ago he’d like to have his future secured before the start of round one.
Looks like he beat his self-imposed deadline.
Replies
Sour grapes it sounds like to me.
Whether if he had made up his mind if he was leaving or not before negotiations were completed, he is being paid market value I believe for a half back that has played in a grand final recently and consistently performed well over the last 2 seasons
Seems to me sour grapes from the media as they had no idea what was going on. These so called journos tried to control the narrative but they got nothing.
Same here, sour grapes from these dopes. Shame on them for trying to ruin the upcoming announcement.
Definately right Parradice, he is a top 5 maybe even top 3 half in this league.
Either pay him and be guaranteed finals maybe GF, or lose him and hope someone pops up or have 2-3 bad years to develop a 7 and lose D Brown in the process.
Not like signing Reynolds for Souths, if you have a good HB keep them. NFL always does that, if you have an average QB you sign them to big money as at least they can win some games and decent ones are hard to find.
Cleary next contact will be 1.4,1.5 so not more than Cleary
Nowhere do they say how long our offer was for.
No1 with a brain and self respect should give a shit what Michelle Bishop has to say.
This is her theory....... like most journos she dont know shit.
She don't like Parra, even though she's from the area, blasphemy.
They cant get any information whatsoever from within our club, so they now make shit up to take them down. F%69 em, we have Mitch signed and his worth every penny with the increased salary cap going up $2.5million from last year.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 8 Next