You most certainly cannot discredit this guys commitment.
MITCHELL Moses has pulled out of a party trip to Las Vegas this week to watch UFC superstar Conor McGregor so he can take up his own fight at Parramatta.
The Daily Telegraph has been told the Eels are attempting to shop the 24-year-old playmaker to rival clubs after a failed attempt to move on halves partner Corey Norman.
But it is understood Moses has no intention of walking out on the final year of his contract and instead has backed himself to prove his worth in 2019.
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That starts by leaving no stone unturned in respect to his pre-season preparations.
Moses’s decision not to head off to Vegas is a clear indication of his intentions.
A stack of NRL players including Moses’ housemate Luke Brooks and good friend Josh Reynolds have made the trip to watch McGregor’s fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov.
But not only did Moses give up his ticket, he has already started training on his own a month before the Eels are officially due back to commence the summer slog.
Parramatta is set to announce the findings of an independent review into a disastrous 2018 season next week.
One of the most damning conclusions expected to come out of the review is said to relate to the club’s culture and discipline.
It’s no secret the Eels really let themselves down on and off the field this year on a number of fronts.
But it was Moses and Norman who so far have wore the brunt of the fallout.
It is understood that as recently as last week there was still talks going on that Moses might not be at the Eels next season.
It follows an unsuccessful push to get rid of Norman who is on close to $900,000 next year.
The talk is that when the Eels failed in their attempts to get rid of Norman, they turned their attention to Moses to try and save salary cap space.
The official line from Parramatta chief executive Bernie Gurr was that both Moses and Norman have a contract for 2019, which Gurr said the club intends to honour.
In football speak that usually means watch this space, although Gurr would not respond to speculation.
Moses is said to have a good working relationship with coach Brad Arthur.
But that didn’t stop them having a no-holds-barred end of season review where the reality of Moses’ responsibilities were laid bare.
Arthur himself is coming into the final season of his contract and unless the Eels can find a way out of the mess they put themselves in this year, no one’s future will be safe.
The club has already announced Mark O’Neill will take over as the general manager of football and take much of the responsibility relating to retention and recruitment out of the head coach’s hands.
The Eels have already signed Junior Paulo and Blake Ferguson to add to their roster for 2019.
But the biggest issue the Eels confronted this year related to lack of leadership and poor discipline on and off the field.
Moses started this season right in the frame for NSW State of Origin selection but the Eels’ poor form ended his hopes.
Brad Fittler makes no secret of the fact he has a huge opinion of Moses’s ability but the challenge for 2019 is to live up to that potential.
Replies
Hopefully it translates to better form as he has the talent but needs better coaching. Hopefully someone like Matty Johns, Kimmorley or Freddie Fittler is employed to help him develop his game.
If Moses is serious he should be staying in regular contact with someone who can guide and improve him as a half and has experience in the position.
Some players are happy to share their knowledge and guide younger players even from other clubs. In that regard if BA has good relationship with Cronk from storm days he should be on phone asking if cronk can talk to him.
FM. Cannot disagree with you re the coaching for the halves. The report really doesn't add a lot to what is generally known and accepted, except that both Norms and Moses are walking a tightrope beyond 2019, if the club signs a decent halves coach for next year that could be the making of the pair, although there are a couple of jnrs who could fairly readily take their spots and also learn under such coaches.
Well done Mitch, surely the trip to Lebanon was enough.
better if moses went to melboure and watched this weeks wwe event, just all the wwe roster there..
i think in the melboure cricket ground with about 80,000 there..
on norman who on earth agreed on hes $900,000 contract in 2019...
there maybe still a chance norman may move on....
The fact that Moses realised he needed to put more effort in and make sacrifices is a huge sign of maturity compared to Norman who talks up his change of attitude with little change. Hope it works out for him like keary and many others such as hayne and Todd carney before their dally m years and Blake ferguson this year.
I just hope it doesn't come out there was a different reason he didn't go like surgery he put off, visa issues or upcoming court date for off field issue.
The culture complainers will have a field day if that's the case.
Saying that I still believe moses is a 5/8 and needs a structured and good kicking half back next to him. See what happens but good stuff Mitch.
IIRC, when at the Tigers he was playing 5/8 with Brooks at half back, Moses believed the half spot was his best position and wanted it. Brooks has played better football this year since a full year without Moses beside him.
Norms can play either position equally as good, but is better in the 6 spot as he has shown with his previous great record of 40/20 kicks along with variety in his kicks, although that seems a long time ago now. Moses also has a good kicking game, but he is now worse than Norms in that dep't, if both stay next year.
I see some competition from below with Brown a likely step up into the 7 spot, no doubt he will be trialled in that spot in the pre-season, also in the off season training, I have little doubt that Moses sees that he has real competition for the half spot and a reason for motivation as found in the article. Last season of a contract always brings out the best in players.
This kid at least has ticker , no matter what people think of his 2018 form you can’t deny he’s a competitor and wants to do well for the club .
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