It’s taken five years for the penny to drop but Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses says he now understands what it takes to guide his side through the pressure of a finals series.
The Eels took another important step towards September football with a 36-12 win over the bottom-placed Titans on Friday night with Moses’s fingerprints on five of the six tries Parramatta scored in their fourth win on the trot.
Brad Arthur's men are guaranteed a place in the finals just 12 months after claiming the wooden spoon and two years removed from a disappointing finals exit.
That 2017 campaign in which the Eels bowed out courtesy of successive losses to the Storm and Cowboys continues to burn but the added responsibility of being the senior playmaker has elevated Moses to a new level.
Weeks away from his 25th birthday and with 126 NRL games to his name, Moses says he now appreciates that patience is just as valuable as individual brilliance.
"I've had to learn over the past few years to not always play the big play; the big play will come later in the game,” Moses said.
"It's taken me probably five years to learn that.
"I kind of feel like I'm doing that at the moment but still a lot of work to do.”
Moses’s two try assists against the Titans took his tally for the year to 26, an incredible eight clear of second-placed uke Keary.
He is both the facilitator and the finishing touch and with a team-first mentality that Arthur says is at the heart of the team’s resurgence in 2019.
"He's composed and all about the team,” Arthur said.
“He probably ran more tonight than he has the last couple of weeks but the opportunities presented.
“He's not trying to force his hand, he's just doing what's best for the team. That composure filters through the group.”
Brad Takairangi was an established member of the squad when Moses arrived from Wests Tigers in 2017 and has no doubt that the extra responsibility following the departure of Corey Norman last year has contributed to Moses’s development.
"He's the sole chief now. He's our main leader on the field with his direction and his kicking game has gone to a whole new level,” Takairangi said.
"He's a real leader now. He's grabbed the team by its throat and made sure that it's his.”
With Norman replaced by 18-year-old Dylan Brown in the halves in round one and 20-year-old Reed Mahoney the team’s first choice No.9, Moses said Arthur’s confidence in his ability to lead the team made his transition that much easier to make.
“I've got an 18-year-old five-eighth next to me, a 20-year-old hooker and even ‘Gutho’ [Clint Gutherson] is only 24 himself. We're probably the youngest spine in the comp and I really took charge,” Moses said.
“I said I'd guide them around the field and finish where we want to finish.
“The relationship I've got with Brad, he's been the best thing for me.
“He’s given me confidence. To see the confidence he has in me to let me go run the team and when we're in a tough situation to get us out of it, I'm loving my footy at the moment.”
Replies
He has had an extraordinary year where his game has gone to a new level. It would seem that he is moving into the next stage of his life with his new found contentment.
As an Eels supporter I can only be thankful. No matter where we end up this year our football club has begun to move forward.
On the field MM is leading the charge but let’s not forget that a lot of good things are also happening behind the scenes.
25 years old and 125 games into his career.
That's about the right timetable for a halfback, especially when you consider that this is the first season he's had absolute control of his own team.
The tigers, really ballsed up letting him and teddy go
The Tigers let neither go, they made both offers in teddy's case they offered more than the chooks. They only pulled Moses offer when they needed the extra funds to keep their other big 3.
I liked the part when Moses got BA to fuck Norman off . The kids got great vision , I liked him before he arrived , and I liked him even more when he was making it obvious he wanted Norman punted .
Getting rid of Norman was probably the biggest reason for our improvement this year. Look at what has happened to the dragons since he turned up even with all their rep players. And the maroons. Fair dinkum the bloke has no association with anything successful in his entire career.
I wonder how far he’s off the Dally M. I reckon he got 6 points last 2 weeks. Had a little go at eels top 4 Moses Dally M at the start of the year. Probably both still only outside chances but I think neither impossible
He’s the best in our team every week kinda like how RTS was for the warriors last year. Smith has competition in his own team and so does Teddy. Hodgson maybe but Moses is the favourite imo
Here's a list Michael, after round 21
#1 26 votes - James Tedesco
#2 25 votes - Cameron Smith
#3 24 votes - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck #
#4 21 votes - Payne Haas
#5 20 votes - Cameron Munster
#6 19 votes - Jason Taumalolo #
#7 18 votes - Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad #
#8 17 votes - Mitchell Pearce
#9 17 votes - Mitchell Moses
#10 16 votes - Damien Cook
#11 16 votes - Daly Cherry-Evans
#12 16 votes - John Bateman
#13 14 votes - Cameron Murray
#14 14 votes - Clint Gutherson #
#15 13 votes - Adam Reynolds
#16 13 votes - Cody Walker
Yeah I saw this list from the Lurker. I think this was before last 2 matches so if right I put him now on 23 votes. He’s a chance if he pretty much gets the top votes or at least some vote for the rest of the games I’d say. Damn Tedesco May be the problem
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