Mitchell Moses, Luke Brooks could be split up in 2017 as Wests Tigers battle salary cap pressures
MITCHELL Moses accepts he is unlikely to finish his NRL career alongside good mate and Wests Tigers halves partner Luke Brooks.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
MITCHELL Moses accepts he is unlikely to finish his NRL career alongside good mate and Wests Tigers halves partner Luke Brooks.
“I’d love to stay with Luke my whole career, but that’s probably not going to happen because of salary cap issues,’’ said Moses.
The sad reality for Tigers fans is Moses and Brooks could be split up as early as next year, especially if Moses produces more man-of-the-match performances and becomes too expensive for the club to retain.
Moses, 21, starred against the Warriors in the NRL’s biggest upset of the opening weekend.
The club’s pin-up appreciated being given more of a licence by coach Jason Taylor to play what was in front of him, or “eyes-up football’’.
But with the Tigers’ cap for 2017 already at breaking point, any extra money required to keep Moses if he lives up his full potential might not be possible.
Moses and Brooks both held off activating a one-year extension at the Tigers for next year. The pair, who will reunite against Manly at Leichhardt Oval on Monday night, are just some of the playmakers up for grabs.
Melbourne’s Cooper Cronk, Gold Coast’s Kane Elgey, Parramatta’s Corey Norman and South Sydney pair Luke Keary and Cody Walker are also free agents at season’s end.
Benji Marshall is another, with reports suggesting that St George Illawarra had tabled him a $300,000 deal for next year.
Moses said he was in no hurry to finalise anything.
“I have no idea, I’m just letting my footy do the talking,’’ said Moses, when asked about his 2017 plans.
“I’m not going into any talks at the moment, and I’m just worrying about playing good footy for the Tigers. That’s why I’ve put it off to June. I’m happy with where I’m at.’’
Moses spoke fondly of Brooks, and could not wait to be team up with him against the Sea Eagles.
Brooks missed last Saturday through suspension.
But the unspoken bond and junior success with Brooks wouldn’t be enough to keep the pair together if a big-money offer came from elsewhere.
“I’ve played with him so long, I can just tell what he’s going to do,’’ Moses said.
“I can feel when he’ll do something, and he knows when I’ll do something. With salary cap issues, it could happen (where I’m forced to leave). It happened with Dylan Walker at Souths, he was a Souths junior, then he got pushed out of the club. They needed to (free up) money.
“I’m loving my footy at the moment. It’s the first time I’ve enjoyed my footy in the last couple of years, and hopefully I can continue doing that. I was low in confidence last year, and I’ve come into this year with a lot of confidence.’’
Some good judges at the Tigers believe Moses is the most naturally gifted out of Brooks and fullback James Tedesco. He said having the ball in his hands more, something which didn’t happen last year, was a big reason for his renewed happiness.
Originally published as Mitchell Moses, Luke Brooks could be split up in 2017 as Wests Tigers battle salary cap pressures
‘Bring back Mary’: Panthers reveal Cleary retention plan
Panthers boss Brian Fletcher has signalled the club’s intention to re-sign Nathan and Ivan Cleary beyond 2027 - while possibly luring Mary Fowler back to Australia as well.
V’landys’ Bears promise amid WA’s NRL expansion collapse
ARLC boss Peter V’landys has delivered a message of hope to long-suffering North Sydney supporters following the dramatic collapse of the Western Bears’ NRL expansion bid.