‘Devastated’ Eels star’s last-second choke will haunt him in State of Origin Game 3

Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses has blown his audition for the NSW halfback jumper after a play that Cooper Cronk says will haunt him.

Mitchell Moses has to recover.

Parramatta’s Mitchell Moses has blown his audition for the NSW halfback jumper after a play that Cooper Cronk says will haunt him.

Moses shanked his last-minute penalty goal attempt in a kick that would have handed the Eels their best win of the season.

On a night full of late drama, Mitchell’s kick from 30m missed to the near side, handing the Panthers a 13-12 victory, while injured halfback Nathan Cleary watched from the sideline.

Moses had been the front-runner to replace Cleary in the Blues’ No. 7 jumper for State of Origin Game 3 on July 14 — but he has left the door open with his mental frailties at the death.

The former Tigers playmaker’s hopes of earning a Blues debut were boosted earlier in the match with his solid game-management, but his missed kick when it mattered the most leaves Rabbitohs star Adam Reynolds still in the race.

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Mitchell Moses reacts after missing a kick.

The 26-year-old’s pain was there for all to see on the full time siren and in the dressing rooms when the cameras spotted him looking despondent while sitting in front of a locker by himself.

“He looks devastated,” Fox League’s Braith Anasta said.

NRL legend Cooper Cronk said the scar of missing such an important kick will continue to haunt Moses, who will not play another game before State of Origin Game 3, if selected.

“There’s going to have to be some work… if he is picked in the No. 7 jumper, to get his head back into the right head space to be playing a game of (Origin) football,” Cronk said on Fox League.

“The thing that he’s going to have to bounce back from, that’s deflating. Game on the line, you live for it, you breathe for it and you dream about it as a kid — and he missed it. And he has to bounce back from that.”

He said Parramatta’s reputation as a team that can’t win the big games is real.

“The biggest question marks about the Parramatta Eels is do they stand up against the big teams on the big stage,” he said.

Mitchell Moses has 12 das before Origin III.

“A lot has to be said about Parramatta’s inability to win the game in those dying stages.”

Eels coach Brad Arthur defender Moses in the post-match press conference.

“It would have been nice, but it doesn’t come down to that last shot at the end of the game,” Arthur said.

“If he kicks it then it’s great, but it’s part of the game. He did his job and he played well. I thought it was a good game of football.

“He stuck to the plan in the toughest conditions.”

Moses’ drama unfolded after Panthers rising star Matt Burton kicked a field goal in the 79th minute that ended up being the match-winner.

Burton had just given the hosts the lead with a clutch field goal from directly in front, but Parramatta was gifted a chance to steal it when Liam Martin took out Waqa Blake from the ensuing kick-off.

The Eels opted to take the two from 32 metres out, but Moses’ effort hooked to the left just like his 45-metre field goal moments earlier as the Panthers avoided what would have been their first loss at home in nearly two years with a gutsy 13-12 win in front of an empty BlueBet Stadium.

— with NCA Newswire

Originally published as ‘Devastated’ Eels star’s last-second choke will haunt him in State of Origin Game 3