James Tedesco, Luke Brooks back Mitch Moses to end Eels title drought

MITCHELL Moses has led the Eels to wins over Brisbane and the Bulldogs, now his former teammates James Tedesco and Luke Brooks believe he can help Parramatta go all the way.

Mitchell Moses.

MITCHELL Moses and ­Parramatta were far from the Eel deal three weeks ago.

But after watching Moses lead the blue and golds to classy wins over Brisbane then the Bulldogs, his housemates and former Wests ­Tigers teammates James Tedesco and Luke Brooks are starting to think otherwise.

“When we played them I thought we should have won and I had my doubts,’’ Brooks said in reference to the Eels’ one-point win over the Tigers.

“But after seeing them against the Broncos and Bulldogs, they’re hitting form.

“They could go all the way. Mitch is playing great footy. His game management against the Bulldogs was outstanding, just the way he was kicking to corners and kept defending.

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“You can tell he’s a lot happier since he’s been there, and obviously winning you’ll be happier.’’

Tedesco, who will bail on the Tigers at season’s end — but still shares a Hunters Hill pad with Moses and Brooks — said the Parramatta halfback had been their standout the past fortnight.

“We finished that game against them thinking, ‘we should have beaten them’, and ‘they weren’t very good’, but the last two weeks they’ve been dominant,’’ Tedesco said.

“I can’t express how happy I am for him. It was a frustrating start to the year when he was here, but he’s found his feet, and since he’s found his feet he’s been their best player.

“I think they’ve won six or seven in a row. Mitch’s combo with ‘Normy’ (Corey Norman) is growing. I thought they may have struggled to score points once they lost ‘Gutho’ (Clint Gutherson), but they’ve looked comfortable.’’

Moses himself said “I always knew I could do the kind of stuff I’m doing now’’, and he will play a pivotal role when the Eels host cellar-dwellers Newcastle at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

Former teammates James Tedesco and Mitchell Moses. Picture: Brett Costello

Plenty of Eels fans believe they can end a 31-year premiership drought after finally unearthing a top-quality long-term No. 7 in Moses.

“I’m definitely a lot happier person,’’ Moses said.

“I just got all that (contract) stuff out of the way and got my future sorted. I’ve been going into games clear headed, and if I’m doing that I play my best footy.

“BA (coach Brad Arthur) 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 that massive connection with BA.

“He’s really opened up my game and let me play what’s in front of me. He’s given me that free rein to do what I want within reason.

“He’s always going into bat for his players. That’s a big thing. You earn a lot of respect that way. You obviously want to play for a coach who always backs you up. He doesn’t treat you like a kid that needs to be backed up. He’s just a coach everyone wants to play for.’’

Moses has also ironed out his defensive deficiencies and said while it had never been a problem getting his body in front of rivals, he had to ­tinker with his technique.

Originally published as James Tedesco, Luke Brooks back Mitch Moses to end Eels title drought