NRL 2023: Parramatta Eels shutdown plans for Wests Tigers to poach Mitch Moses early

Parramatta have moved fast to shutdown speculation of a shock move for Mitchell Moses to join the Wests Tigers in 2023, and he won’t be released early, writes Dean Ritchie.

He isn’t going anywhere.

Former NSW halfback Mitch Moses will remain an Eel for 2023 despite speculation linking him to a shock move to Wests Tigers for next season.

Despite having another year remaining on his current deal, Moses has been targeted for next season by Wests Tigers.

The Eels declined to comment but Parramatta fans can rest easy - Moses won’t be released early.

Parramatta has a history of keeping players until the end of their contracts.

The Eels could have allowed Isaiah Papali’i and Reed Mahoney to leave prematurely – but they didn’t.

Wests Tigers remain among the front-runners to sign Moses when his deal expires after next season.

Wests Tigers are among the frontrunners to land Mitch Moses, but he won’t be released to join a rival club early. Picture: Getty Images.

Canterbury is another club expressing strong claims for Moses.

The rumour mill swirling around Moses, 28, has hit overdrive but Parramatta is sitting back quietly confident he will remain at the club long-term.

Parramatta reached this year’s NRL grand final and won’t be allowing Moses – their halfback and general - to walk away to a rival club just three months before the 2023 season starts.

Those close to Moses believe Canterbury poses more of a threat to Parramatta than Wests Tigers.

The Eels are aware of the “external noise” about Moses’ future.

Parramatta has tabled a four-year deal they believe is lucrative but could come in under what’s on offer elsewhere.

Moses is on the Tigers’ radar for 2024, but they are also closing in on Nathan Brown and John Bateman.

Those close to Parramatta don’t think Wests Tigers have the money to sign Moses for 2023.

Moses did however start his career at Wests Tigers in 2014 and played 67 NRL matches for the Concord-based club.

Wests Tigers are close to signing Moses’ Eels teammate Nathan Brown although no deal has yet been struck.

The Tigers are still trying to fit Brown into their salary cap.

Wests Tigers are also close to signing Englishman John Bateman but, again, the deal hasn’t yet been ratified.

The transfer fee for Bateman was said to be around $250,000 but sources in England claim Wigan may now want more.

Once they sign Bateman, Wests Tigers can start positioning themselves for a crack at Moses.

CONTRACT CLAUSE KEEPS EELS IN DARK OVER MOSES’ PLANS

—David Riccio

Mitchell Moses is rated only a 50-50 chance of staying at Parramatta with increasing fears the star halfback will sign with a rival club.

The Eels chief playmaker is off-contract at the end of next season and is on the precipice of signing what is likely to be the last major contract of his career.

The outstanding halfback is eyeing a four-year deal from 2024, worth in excess of $950,000 per-season, which would take him until the age of 33.

Parramatta have submitted what they believe is a significant four-year package, however, well-placed figures across the game believe that both the Wests Tigers and Bulldogs are preparing offers that could blow the Eels out of the water.

The Eels are holding out hope Moses will re-sign amid a battle to retain rising star Dylan Brown, which is a delicate process that leaves little wiggle room in a salary cap that beyond 2023, is yet to be determined by the NRL.

Mitchell Moses is only rated a 50/50 chance of staying with Parramatta, as the Tigers and Bulldogs chase the star halfback. Picture: Getty Images.

Interestingly, Moses has a player option in his favour with the Eels for 2024, which means he doesn’t have to tell the club of his future plans until round 10 next year.

Yet the longer Moses delays his decision, the more difficult it becomes for the Eels, or any other club, to form a back-up plan.

It’s why the Eels are eager to learn if the influential half will re-sign long-term and continue the club’s push for a premiership.

The Eels are adamant they are yet to receive correspondence informing them of Moses’ intention to leave the club.

It’s considered that Moses is at best, a 50-50 chance of staying in the blue and gold.

The Bulldogs have 13 players off-contract at the end of 2023, including starting halfback Kyle Flanagan, while former Parramatta hooker Reed Mahoney is about to commence his career at Belmore.

The possibility of Moses returning to the Tigers, after leaving the club in acrimonious circumstances 2017, would develop into one of the game’s great stories.

Moses could be tempted by a move back to Wests to play under Benji Marshall as a future coach.

Moses’ strong relationship with Tigers half Luke Brooks, a former roommate, paired with the opportunity to reunite with his right-edge partner from Parramatta, Isaiah Papali’i and to work with future Tigers coach Benji Marshall, are all major lures.

Members of senior Parramatta management weren’t willing to comment about the negotiations when contacted by The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.

The Daily Telegraph had been told that the Eels were already working on a contingency plan for losing Moses, however that was strongly refuted.

The Eels respect for Moses and determination to strike a deal can also be revealed in the fact that the majority of dialogue between the star half-back’s manager Isaac Moses and the club has been held by the man in the highest position at the club, chairman Sean McElduff.

Eels coach Brad Arthur shares a tight bond with Moses and has made no secret of his wish for the Lebanon international to stay.

However, 29-days after hitting the open market on November 1, Moses has failed to re-sign with the Eels, who he joined halfway through 2017.

Eels coach Brad Arthur has a tight bond with Moses, and will be hoping he can keep the halfback at the club. Picture: Getty Images.

WHY THE EELS? ’HUNGRY’ HODGSON ON HOW HE CAN HELP NEW CLUB

—Michael Carayannis

The easy out for Josh Hodgson would have been to walk away after having his third knee reconstruction. Squeeze some money out of the Eels and ride off onto the sunset.

But that is not Hodgson’s style.

“The easy road would’ve been to retire,” Hodgson said.

“At 33 after my third knee people would’ve pulled the pin, getting a pay out to sit on the beach and drink a beer instead of working your arse off.

“I want to win. A person that has that hunger is more dangerous than someone who wants to take the easy way out.”

Josh Hodgson said giving up would have been the easy way out. Picture: Tim Hunter

WHY THE EELS

Hodgson has just completed his first week as an Eel when he reflects on his rollercoaster 12 months.

By the time he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in round one against Cronulla, Hodgson had already inked a deal to join the Eels. Reed Mahoney’s departure to Canterbury paved the way for Hodgson to agree to join Parramatta last December.

“I was in a position where I felt like the next wave of kids were coming through at Canberra,” Hodgson said.

“I love the club and didn’t want to leave them in the lurch but I felt like they were in good hands.

“In 2021 I felt I was playing good footy but I was playing 60 minutes at loose forward after starting the game at nine. I didn’t want to transition into a loose forward. I wanted to be one of the best nines in the game and I was seeking out a challenge to do that.

“I can help Parramatta in the middle. I loved working with big middles like Josh Papalii, Joe Tapine and Shannon Boyd. People like that are good to play off your hip.”

Canberra star Josh Hodgson helped off the field after suffering a knee injury. Picture: NRL Images

THE INJURY

Hodgson did not consider retiring but he certainly asked the question of the medical staff.

“I didn’t have a clue if they’d let me keep playing,” Hodgson said.

“It was the first time I’d done it twice on the same knee. They said I was within my rights to retire. I knew diligence and hard work would get me back. There’s no secret.”

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur quickly picked up the phone to check in on Hodgson’s welfare after the injury. Hodgson turned his hand to rehabilitation and making sure he would still have a positive impact on the Raiders.

“Brad got in touch to check in on me and to see how I was going,” Hodgson. “The Eels were really good.

“Canberra really looked after me. I could’ve kicked stones and moped around knowing I was leaving but I loved the club and I really wanted them to go all the way and I wanted to help in any capacity.

“Sometimes that was catching the ball for extras or having my say in the game plan. It was a long and frustrating year.”

Hodgson said the knee was progressing well. He is yet to resume contact training but expects that to happen before Christmas.

ONE-EYED EEL

Despite being fully committed to Canberra’s premiership run, Hodgson kept a close tab on the Eels. He knows the torment the current group of players are going through having fell one win short of premiership success with the Raiders in 2019.

“Losing gives you this feeling that has stuck with me every day,” Hodgson said.

“Still to this day. It gives you this weird motivation that it was within touching distance so I know exactly how (the players) are feeling. I’ve never won a grand final. If I retired and didn’t work as hard as I could to win one then I would have regrets.”