Eels stars at war: inside story of the Mannah-Moses feud at Parramatta
https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_144%2C$height_144/t_crop_fill/q_86%2Cf_auto/781f7a16cafe800fcc64fb756b16fc18cd9baf9d 2x" alt="Michael Chammas" data-pb-hidden="true" />By Michael Chammas
There’s more to Tim Mannah’s break-up with long-time manager Isaac Moses than picking sides after the bust-up between the now de-registered agent and his ex-business partner Joe Wehbe.
It involves Eels superstar Mitchell Moses and false allegations that rocked the halfback last year following Mannah’s axing from the Parramatta team.
https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.489%2C$multiply_0.7082%2C$ratio_1.776846%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_52/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/a8d68ee1ebc16281955e5a0706ee7de2ae6e724d 2x" alt="Mitchell Moses is consoled by Tim Mannah after a loss in 2018." />Mitchell Moses is consoled by Tim Mannah after a loss in 2018.CREDIT:AAP
Mannah was devastated at being dumped after round 11 last year and told those closest to him that Isaac’s cousin, Mitchell Moses, may have been to blame for his sudden axing.
At the time, Mitchell didn’t know why Mannah was no longer speaking to him, but later learnt from people at the club the real reason behind the veteran prop’s sudden animosity towards him.Mannah never played another NRL game after he was dropped following the 16-10 loss to Penrith at Bankwest Stadium on May 23, and wrongly believed Mitchell may have tried to seek revenge for Isaac by convincing coach Brad Arthur to axe him.
Arthur has vehemently denied Mitchell had any involvement whatsoever, both to the Herald and to club powerbrokers who have been privately concerned that tension surrounding the Moses-Wehbe bust-up would implode in their faces.
https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.249%2C$multiply_0.7082%2C$ratio_1.776846%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_88/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/f21e634c631119b45854b370fdc3bca1c3fdab73 2x" alt="Mitchell Moses and Tim Mannah together after a game against the Bulldogs in 2018." />Mitchell Moses and Tim Mannah together after a game against the Bulldogs in 2018.CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS
‘‘I have always picked the team and I take full responsibility for it,’’ Arthur said on Sunday night.
Arthur’s decision was based around a desire to bring in fresh legs, dumping Mannah – and three other players that day – after losing six of the previous eight games with him in the side.
Mitchell’s relationship with other players linked to Mannah and Wehbe never deteriorated. Two of Mitchell’s closest friends, James Tedesco and Nathan Brown, both walked out on Isaac in favour of Wehbe, yet their relationship remains as close as it was before.
At the time Mannah, who was once one of Isaac’s closest clients, had turned his back on the agent to side with Wehbe in the bitter legal battle between the two powerful figures.
https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_1.793%2C$multiply_0.7082%2C$ratio_1.776846%2C$width_1059%2C$x_106%2C$y_213/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/3eab9071f09156488618c7b76455f2368bdbea5a 2x" alt="Mitchell Moses, Nathan Brown, Tim Mannah and Michael Jennings on holiday together in Lebanon in 2018." />Mitchell Moses, Nathan Brown, Tim Mannah and Michael Jennings on holiday together in Lebanon in 2018.
Mannah had already gone to the NRL integrity unit to tip the bucket on Isaac, claiming the agent had asked him to lie about a third-party deal in the code’s earlier investigation into the Eels’ salary cap.
Mannah and Mitchell – who had travelled to Lebanon with Eels teammates Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings and Nathan Brown only eight months earlier – were no longer on speaking terms at training. It was the elephant in the room at the club.
Two weeks later, on the recommendation of Robbie Farah, the Wests Tigers offered Mannah a contract for the remainder of the year. Mannah sought a release from the Eels, but the NRL advised the prop that he would have to give back thousands of dollars that had been paid to him by Parramatta Leagues Club as part of an NRL-approved agreement.
Mannah decided to remain at the Eels and played the remaining 14 games of his career with the club’s reserve grade team, Wentworthville Magpies.
He had a job waiting for him at the club at the end of it, but Eels officials asked Mannah to repair damaged relationships to ensure that having him remain at the club wouldn’t create a toxic environment. He has since repaired a number of relationships inside the playing group, but not with Mitchell.
https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.233%2C$multiply_0.7082%2C$ratio_1.776846%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_53/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/f51e8b9fed85fca122138759fba25ad15593c431 2x" alt="Tim Mannah, Mitchell Moses and Robbie Farah playing for Lebanon at the 2017 World Cup." />Tim Mannah, Mitchell Moses and Robbie Farah playing for Lebanon at the 2017 World Cup.CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS
In his part-time role with the club’s commercial team, Mannah has no official duties linking him to the team but has a strong relationship with players like Jennings and Brown.
This columnist’s first interview as a journalist was with an 18-year-old Mannah, an article written for free and submitted to the Parramatta Sun following a 2007 interview at Parramatta Marist High School, where the Eels’ Jersey Flegg team used to train.
He was, and still is, a salt-of-the-earth type of guy. Which is why those who have been in Mannah’s company over the years were shocked when they learned he had gone to the integrity unit and told all about Isaac, resulting in his de-registration.
Mannah is not a malicious person, but he has put himself in the middle of a feud that is threatening to get ugly.
Isaac has already indicated he will take the NRL to court over his de-registration. Isaac has told those closest to him that if he goes down, others may go down with him. The Eels’ primary concern is that the ongoing saga doesn’t derail their promising campaign.
Replies
Nah I wont give that much importance. This is a last year thingyy. This year is a different year. Also, Mosses seems to have come out of his age. His playing well. I won't be suprise if he gets a run in Origin this year.
If there is ever any hint of Mannah's carry on affecting the team or any of the NRL players in any way he should be sacked immediately. I personally wouldn't have him there anyway - this sort of bullshit is totally avoidable.
Moses is our highest paid player - if Mannah can't bring himself to speak to him (like a little pussy) then he should probably be told to fuck off now.
He got dropped because he was way past his best and played the game in slow motion.
Agree.
I am actually surprised he's been given a role within the club with everything that's happenend since he got dropped last year and requested a release to the tigers. I find that very strange.
Don't think Mannah was being a pussy for speaking up about player managers Kram.
think from what I followed and read,it's the opposite in fact- he must in fact have a huge set. He could've shut his pie hole and sailed off but obviously had the courage to speak up (which btw as I recall was earlier last year)
either you want player managers to continue to be held unaccountable or someone with balls needs to speak up.
Me- I'm on the side of the male equivalent Erin brockovich's every time :)
If he's still mingling with some or all of the current players he should be mending bridges with Moses not playing no talkies.
Mannah's in his 30's and has been well looked after by the club for a very long tme. He was one of our highest paid players for years and is still being looked after. It's his decision to "put himself in the middle of a feud" (as the article says) It's not in the club's interests to have him carrying grudges that could upset team harmony. Mannah should be doing everything in his power to distance himself from this shit and mend bridges.
If you believe the decision to drop him was BA's (I do) then it looks to me like Mannah has resented being dropped and has carried on like he has as a result. He was prepared to sulk off to the Tigers until he realised he would have to give the club "a few thousand dollars" back - that says alot.
Classic comment - if I.Moses going down he taking others down with him! Tells ya a great deal about the power they've held over clubs.Maybe Parra was too big to take down some they should have in our sinking ship
thing is everyone talks about player managers having to be held accountable in salary cap issues... no one has the balls yo speak up and if they do no one wants it to be their club doing it !
Greenberg obviously reckoned his mate Moses' level of culpability in our situ was zero - no action against him or many others. Think only ostriches would believe that to be true
Think uncle Moses had a lot to do with it all, and at the time likely had something to do with uncle Moses pulling the strings as well. And all at the same time as MMoses re-signing contract negotiations with us were taking place for months.
Clearly recall that at the time Mannahs dropping given the squad form was not justified at all. Fact.
like I've said before, to think this whole business didn't affect the team dynamic, would be far fetched.
I posted about this last year when Mannah was presented a plaque and pregame parramatta tribute last year. The ceremony was taking place In the middle of the ground while the players were warming up at one end. All the players and coaching staff except Nathan Brown and one other that I can't remember "possibly Gower" completely ignored Mannah and the ceremony that was being conducted by the club.I didn't know why at the time.
8 or 9 weeks earlier when Mannah requested a mid year release to go play for the Tigers, BA effectively banned him from playing first grade and banned him from being around the players, banishing him to play out his days at Wenty.
Now I've seen Timmy in his suit at all our home games in the corporate areas and on the sidelines with special club guests, disabled fans and special fans that have sideline passes etc before games working for the club.
It turns out that obviously player Manager Issac Moses is pissed with Mannah about going to the integrity unit and disclosing illegal third party deals that he had organised by Issac Moses. Now Issac Moses hasn't threatened the club to withdraw his contracted players like he did with Brisbane and the Warriors because the "after playing club job, that Timmy has , I believe is a third party deal" that was organised by Issac Moses and was iron clad, and one that the club is contractually obligated to honour.
one thing is for sure, Timmy is very much on the nose with the playing group except Nathan Brown and one other and is literally banished by BA and not allowed around or near the playing group. There is still more to the story but I'm not aware of it. If someone else can add more I'd love to know.
Since this has been going on for close on 12 months I don't see it effecting the paying group any more then it has already.
Tim sacked IMoses before that. He'd been handling his own business.
how could his current job be a third party deal. It's after retirement?
I believe it was a contractual arrangement with his last deal. Call it want you want, third party deal is possibly the wrong choice of words on my behalf, but my understanding is that it was a contractual arrangement weather it was hidden, or not , weather this was the reason of Mannah going to the integrity unit I don't know. But the job after his playing days was definitely as part of his last deal with the club. Further if he had of gone to theTigers mid year, the job and the money associated with the job became null and void. Once this was pointed out to Mannah, he decided to go back on his verbal deal with the Tigers and stay with the Eels albeit playing for Wenty.
Dont feed the drama. Our team and club dont need the drama
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