Is it time???
For many Eels fans, the answer is already a resounding yes. If Mitch Moses gave up rep footy, it would dramatically improve his chances of getting through a full NRL season—something we’re all desperate to see.
But more broadly, when does it become time for any player to focus solely on club duties?
For me, if your marquee player has managed to play just 14 out of a possible 44 games over the last two seasons, is over 30, and is your club’s most important piece, then the decision should be pretty clear. Sure Cherry Evans played at 35, but he's been extremely fortunate be hardly ever injured, unlike Moses whose played 8 games and 6 games in two seasons for Parramatta respectively. This is honestly joke, it's not the fans being selfish.
Plenty of greats have stepped back from representative football to prolong their club careers: Greg Inglis, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Jack Wighton, to name just a few. Smith, for example, retired from Origin in 2018 but still gave Melbourne two more stellar seasons.
The question is—should Parramatta make the first move and start that conversation with Moses? I’d argue they absolutely need to.
Moses hasn’t been fully fit all year. He’s barely goal-kicked when required, and looks hampered even in the few games he’s managed to suit up for the Eels. I gave him the benefit of the doubt heading into the season, but this is getting ridiculous. Let’s not forget he did minimal training in the preseason too.
It’s time the club—and the fans—made their feelings clear. Enough is enough. Parramatta needs their leader on the park, week in and week out. If that means stepping away from rep footy, then so be it.
The Club have put their faith in Mitchell with one of the largest contracts ever. Now it's time for Mitchell to make the decision in what's best for Parramatta.
Sarantinos needs to address this situation asap. The fans pay their memberships and gate fees, we essentially pay the players wages. I think now it would be self-regarding for Moses to continue this approach. His injury issues especially with his foot and lower have persisted for over 12 months now.
Replies
Wasn't his original foot injury from a club game? Then the pre-season aggravated it. The calf strain was as a result of tightness leading into Origin 2, again I think that was from a club game and backing up after Origin 1. The bicep injury last year was just one of those things that can happen in any game.
Players need to be rested correctly after rep games, even if they want to back up. They are more likely to do an injury after such an intense game. Coates was rested by the Storm as he injured himself after backing up and was out for months as a result. Moses should have taken a week off or not played Origin 2 with that calf tightness. Paps got rested by the Storm with the same complaint.
So I think it's more of a management issue, rather than the rep games in of themselves.
Issue is he plays no nrl leading into rep footy, 99% chance you will get injured if your body isnt taking the physical toll each week. He needs to build his body up with nrl footy then into rep. He keeps rushing into origin after 1-2 games at Parra
The issue I have around Moses calf strain issues , if they're not allowed to heal properly you can end up with a ruptured Achilles .
Why rush him back this season , it doesn't achieve anything significantly for the Eels.
If it's a %100 not a problem play a few games , otherwise see you next year.
If he ruptures an Achilles your out an entire season .
That's fine Bup , but the debate centres around him sitting out to recover and then jumping on the plane to play for Australia. I agree , he should just take the rest of the year like he did last year , but he fucked off and played for Australia and then didn't return for us for what 6 rounds to kick off. 2025 ?
He even jumped in the media before last season was done and proclaimed to be training the house down to be ready for Mals call up. Champ, if you can train the house down whilst our teams battling to avoid the spoon, then put that Blue and Gold tracksuit on that's buried at the back of the wardrobe and get down to play for the mob that's feeding your kids.
Then he should retire on the basis of I'll health and the money could be used elsewhere
Is the joves a hottie ???!!!!
my word
Good Blog Chief, asking the question.
It's easy for us to be selfish and ask him not to play rep footy, and i'd rather him play 100% games for the Eels, but I do wonder. Does rep footy motivate Mitch to be better, as a kid we all wanted to play for NSW and Australia, it motivated us to be better You can't underestimate the power of motivation to achieve something.
Then as a club i think we need rep players in the team, thinking it may help lure potential recruits to play along a current rep player etc etc, i think it could promote the club more.
To get to the top of the NRL and become a legend i think means to play rep games as well.
I don't think i'd want that taken from me if i wanted it, so I think Mitch should continue to play rep footy, as much as it has hurt us in recent times.
What's the point of being motivated to be better by playing rep footy and then losing that motivation by spending the footy season on the sidelines injured and letting your club and teammates down? Playing for your team should be motivation enough on top of your high salary and getting paid for doing something you like
Good blog BUT I disagree mate, we need more players playing rep footy at every level especially SOO - SOO is for elite players and this the very reason why Moses excels. Although we won our last comp in 86 Australia and NSW teams were stacked with Eels players and we titles and SOO series. Elite player find a way its in thier DNA
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