Is Mitchell Moses a better footballer at Parramatta than he was at the Wests Tigers? Judging by his performances over the past month, it would appear so.
But not according to the man himself. The way Moses is playing now, which has been instrumental in Parramatta's six-game winning streak, is the way he always knew he could. He's had it in him, but has struggled to extract it.
Eels notch sixth straight win
The Parramatta Eels continue their impressive form with a 20-4 win over the Canterbury Bulldogs.
As he will happily admit, Moses has struggled to show his talent consistently since bursting into the NRL in 2014.
But in new surroundings at Parramatta, he is finally starting to realise the massive potential that has been so often referred to when speaking about the 22-year-old Tigers junior.
"I always knew I could do the kind of stuff I'm doing now," Moses said.
"It's just a matter of bringing a few things together and working a few combinations out. The change has been good for me. I feel like I have found my feet here at Parra. I have probably taken a bit more of a mature approach to my game. I'm not really pushing the passes, just keeping it simple. That's been working well the last couple of weeks."
Given the events that unfolded with Moses at the Wests Tigers earlier this year, it's easy to forget he was actually the club's player of the year in 2016.
But those same events at the Tigers saw Moses struggle to find form and motivation as the personal toll of a protracted contract negotiation began to take its toll.
Mitchell Moses: I'm definitely a lot happier person." Photo: AAPThose closest to him saw an unhappy man. But that's changed in the blue and gold.
"I'm definitely a lot happier person," Moses said. "I just got all that stuff out of the way and got my future sorted. I've been going into games clear-headed. I'm definitely a lot happier now. If I'm going into games with a clear head and not worrying about other things and worrying about the job I have to do, I play my best footy when I'm doing that so I'll do that for the rest of the year."
Eels coach Brad Arthur, who was desperate to get Moses across mid-season to bolster his side's finals ambitions, has to be credited for the improvement and maturity of his No.7 in such a short time.
"BA has been massive for me as well. Just sitting down with him before I was coming here and picking his brains about footy – I definitely had a massive connection to BA," Moses said.
"He's really opened up my game and let me play what's in front of me. He's given me that free reign to do what I want, at a limit. I think my footy is at a good stage where I'm not going for the big play, just trying to grind out games a lot better than what I used to do.
"I've had like four coaches this year, he's been massive in helping me. I think the first time we met it was about what I wanted to become as a footballer. There was a big connection. I've heard from other players before that he's a really good coach and I was excited to work with him."
As close as he is to housemate Luke Brooks, the common criticism of the pair at the Wests Tigers was that they couldn't find their mojo as a halves combination.
They often played their best football in the absence of the other. But the combination with Corey Norman appears to be blossoming as the Eels approach their first finals series since 2009.
" He takes a lot of pressure off me," Moses said of Norman.
"We've got threats on both sides of the field. He's a class player. His name was tossed up to play Origin this year and I think he deserved a shot there. He missed out unfortunately but he's playing outstanding footy at the moment. He takes a lot of pressure off me which really helps my game."
Moses remembers the Eels' 2009 run fondly. He was still in high school, but he was an Eels tragic who was in the stands at ANZ Stadium for the grand final loss to Melbourne.
His father is a die-hard Parramatta fan, who now uses his son to vent his frustrations over the Eels' performances – not that he's had much to complain about since his son joined.
"Every time I was at the Tigers, he always had the Parra game on the TV and would be up and screaming at the players," Moses said.
"Now that I'm on that team, now I'm copping all the sprays. He's loving it. He's a massive Parra fan since he was younger."
Replies
I always liked Moses - well before he became an Eel.
No that he is one - gees I love the guy...
It sounds like he has his head switched on. Hard for a 22 yr old to do. He credits BA for improvements in his game management - which is his main role. Compliments to the coach.
If he continues along these lines he will have a very successful career.
The fact that multiple people and different clubs have said the same stuff about Arthur does mean something
I will again join the que in saying that I had reservations of him, think my words were "not totally convince". Happy to eat humble pie (actually a hot apple one fresh out of the oven) and say I was totally wrong. If he continues in the current form he only has to lift a few percentage points to have him sitting up to become the eels best 7 yet.
While early days, my suspicion is that the eels 7 jersey so called jinx is about to be bucketed.
I hate to gloat.... who am I kidding I fucking love to gloat.. I had small reservations, However; i definitely saw it as a positive.
I had a slight worry it could be a flop (the hangover from the Watmough, Foran, Sandow sagas) , but my idea of how he would play has been fulfilled prematurely... I think we're finally in a position we can build a team around a few key players and be very competitive for the next decade. We're realistically looking like a premiership threat this year- not even a season into a new halves partnership, and you would have to think this will only get better.
https://www.1eyedeel.com/forum/topics/mitchell-moses-not-the-best-a...
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