You didn't need an independent review to tell you what Mitchell Moses and Corey Norman would discover throughout a forgettable 2018.
"We just didn't work on the field," a forthright Moses told NRL.com.
"It's as simple as that. We are actually good mates but we're two dominant players and we struggled to find the right balance."
Something was always going to give. That's what happens when a team with premiership aspirations finishes with the wooden spoon.
Most assumed the 'something' would be Norman, especially given the club's not-so-private directive for the five-eighth to find a new home in 2019.
But as the months passed without a bite for Norman, the Eels told Moses he was also free to explore his options elsewhere such was the club's desire to split the pair.
"It's hard to explain how I felt when I was told," Moses said.
"I'm not going to lie it was upsetting to hear that straight away after the season."
Moses had just returned from an off-season holiday in Lebanon and was about to set off on a trip to watch Conor McGregor fight in Las Vegas.
With his career at a crossroad, Moses cancelled the boys trip to the United States in favour of returning to pre-season training earlier than his teammates.
"When I got back from Lebanon something just clicked," he admitted.
"I thought 'that's it, enough is enough'. I'm 24 years old now and with the season I just had, I couldn't reward myself with another holiday to Vegas. Honestly, I hadn't earned it. I want to do something in this game. I don't want to look back in regret of what could have been.
"I knew going away wasn't the best thing for me, I needed to get back and work on being the player I wanted to be. I just felt I needed to get a head start on everyone else.
"I was disappointed in the way I played last year. I just know that's not the footy player I am. I am better than that. I just wanted to come back this pre-season – not to prove a point – but to get back to the footy I know I can play. I want to get Parramatta back to the top."
Moses is saying all the right things. More importantly, he's doing all the right things.
He came back to training last year with a renewed attitude, albeit still unsure as to where he would be in 2019.
"I left it up to my manager and told him I don't want to hear anything about it until I need to," Moses said.
"I'm not sure who wanted me or didn't want me. It was documented the [Warriors] and teams like that but I told my manager you deal with that, all I want to worry about is training with Parramatta.
"I said 'I'm at Parramatta next year at the moment', and that's what I wanted. I didn't want to hear that 'this club is interested or this club is not interested'. My focus was on the Eels."
As the months passed, and as a result of St George Illawarra's deal with Jarryd Hayne falling over at the 11th hour, the door opened for Norman to link with the Dragons.
It ensured Moses, who hadn't attracted much interest from rival clubs, would remain at the Eels but under a coach who was willing to let him go just a few months earlier.
Both Brad Arthur and Moses are off contract at the end of 2019, with the future of both largely in the hands of the other.
So when they sat down to discuss life after Norman, Moses didn't allow the events of the previous few months to impact on his relationship with the coach.
"Me and Brad sat down and had a conversation when I came back," Moses said.
"It wasn't about trying to fix anything between us. I didn't want to come to training and mope around about it and feel sorry for myself thinking 'I'm not wanted here' or 'why did they ask me to move on'. Whatever happened, happened. I can only control what happens next.
"To be honest it was probably more motivating. It actually got me out of my comfort zone and got me training hard. I started doing the extras that maybe I wouldn't have done last year. I'm in a completely different frame of mind at the moment, but it's only preseason."
What a lot of Parramatta fans struggled to understand in 2018 was how Moses and Norman could lead the club to the finals the previous year then produce the sub-standard performances they did 12 months later.
It was largely assumed they had fallen out, but the truth of it was that off the field their friendship remained.
On the field, however, frustrations began to simmer.
"When I first came to Parramatta I loved playing with Normy," Moses said.
"He did a lot for me. He helped me out with a lot of stuff and really took the pressure off me when I first came here. We had that good first season but bowed out in the semis. Then I think we tried to fix a bit too much in the year after. I felt comfortable playing with Normy.
"It's not like we hated each other or didn't get along. We're actually good mates off the field. There were games last year when we were on song ... but it was well documented we didn't work. It's how it has panned out. Normy is at the Dragons now and he's a great buy for them, but I'm also pretty excited with what we've got now at Parramatta."
Among the most notable changes at Parramatta in the off-season is a rejuvenated Michael Jennings who, like Moses, was told he was free to move on ahead of his final year on contract.
But there's also been a change in the coach, who has decided to take a more hands-on approach after admitting he allowed his players too much say in the preseason last year in the hope of expediting leadership in the group.
"I think he's taken a bit more control to be honest," Moses said.
"The way he has come back to training, he's been very good for the boys and everyone is enjoying training."
Throughout the interview at the club's North Parramatta training base, Moses repeatedly references a desire to put 2018 behind him.
But he knows just how important the scars of last year will be in helping resurrect the club's fortunes.
"I copped a fair bit," he said.
"There are a lot of people who are very supportive, but you know better than anyone else the fans wear their hearts on their sleeve and there was quite a fair bit thrown at me. It's how you handle it. You have to cop it because it's part of the job. I'm pretty used to it. I've had a fair bit happen in my career so I'm used to a spray or two.
"Last year hurt. It did. You don't want to forget about the hurt. We want to change that this year. There were some tough times last year. I'm going to see it as a learning curve and let it make me a better player. When that last game finished last year, it wasn't relief, but I had this feeling like 'finally we can reset'."
Replies
A lot of people gave me shit when i said he'd been told he could look elsewhere and he wasnt wanted, looks like thats exactly what has happened.
He will not be here next year, the only reason hes here now is because he got no takers at his 850k pricetag which was 100k more than Corey was on.
Good chance he will be gone during the season to some other poor pricks who want to pay for a bum who cant play with an established or dominant half.
Hes already proven he cant guide the team around, theres nothing to prove this year, the ships sailed.
bwahahaha
I’m not sure anyone doubts both Moses and Norman were told to look elsewhere. It was pretty well documented in the media that’s what happened. I don’t think Arthur would have cared which one stayed to be honest but he probably knew that only one would end up leaving.
All this doesn’t mean Moses career at Parra is over. It’s up to him now to prove himself in the drivers seat if he succeeds he will have a 5 year career at Parra.
I agree ME. For the best chamce going foward 1 half had to leave and after Norman didn't attract offers the club had no choice and Moses was offered.
If he was on the outer he would have been offered around a lot earlier the same as Norman. He definitely has potential but if he lives up to it at parra is not only in his hands but our foward pack.
If he goes well early in the season he may get offers elsewhere but it will be up to him to hold off on offers and back himself to improve as year progresses. I don't see us resigning him till at least after origin period even if killing it to prove he can maintain the form.
He has definitely matured and realising sacrifices in his life are needed is a good sign. The best halves all got better as they got older and put extra work in to be the best. Even Moses admits he didn't really do extras before so could be a very good mentor to young Brown. I wonder if he or the club have sought out side mentors such as Fittler or M Johns to help with his development.
I can see him having good year if foward pack do their job and he gets good service from dummyhalf. People have said we need a solid 9 but dont really acknowledge how much of an issue if was with so much chopping and changing in the position last year.
Having Lane and also the juniors in Nikuore and utoikamanu who have strong running games should also help Moses particularly Lane who reads the play well and knows which lines to run. Some average halves are made to look great by players around them and even some great halves look average when not surrounded by the right players.
''if he was on the outer he would have been offered around a lot earlier, same with Norman'' this makes no sense considering whats transpired, midget lol
What transpired was Norman was on market well before Moses. If Norman got offer and left Moses never would have been shopped. So doesn't really paint a picture as unwanted at the club. Pretty simple really.
lol
Well noted FM.
Whilst I think Bevan is a great fullback under development, what about Bevan in the number 9?
Speed, ability and cunning he has, as for size, he’s about the same size as Cooke or Peats.
That's not what I got out of this article. To me it sounds like he has finally woken up and realised that his career is in his hands. No more relying on other people or feeling he has been let down etc. This is a massive opportunity for him and he needs to continue this positive attitude. We'll see how it pans out.
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