Parramatta No. 7 Mitchell Moses credits Canterbury snubbing as the turning point in his NRL career
“It’s the best thing that ever happened to me”: How being brushed by the Bulldogs is helping Mitchell Moses to bring down the biggest curse in Parramatta Eels history.
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Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses has described being brushed by the Canterbury Bulldogs — and then coach Des Hasler — as the turning point in his NRL career, stating: “It’s the best thing that ever happened to me”.
Outstanding for the Eels over the past month, Moses embarks on a Thursday Night Football grudge match against the Belmore club who deemed him unworthy of a contract in 2017, instead signing Kieran Foran to a $3 million megadeal.
Since that time however, injuries have restricted Foran to just 23 appearances for a Belmore outfit that finished 12th last year and sits 13th now.
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Moses, meanwhile, heads into the Bankwest Stadium clash with Parramatta gunning for five straight, a top four spot and what is increasingly shaping as his strongest season since debuting with Wests Tigers in 2014.
Asked if he was still motivated by the contract saga that, two years ago, had Hasler wanting to sign James Tedesco and Aaron Woods from Wests Tigers, but not him, Moses replied: “I’m loving it here at Parramatta, so doesn’t matter.
“And to be honest, it’s probably the best thing that has ever happened to me.
“Not going to Canterbury and coming here instead, it's good that it happened.”
Quizzed on his strong form in 2019, Moses credited regular conversations he now has with legendary Eels halfback Peter Sterling — with the pair discussing not only game day preparation, but analysis of opposing teams and players.
The new friendship suddenly has the 24-year-old on the cusp of breaking what has long been considered the ‘Curse of the Eels No.7 jersey’.
Since Sterlo retired in 1992, Parramatta have churned through 36 different halfbacks, with Chris Sandow and Tim Smith the most capped of the group with 71 games.
Moses, who last year re-signed for $2.5 million over three seasons, now owns 59.
Over summer, the playmaker and fellow halves partner Dylan Brown both met with Sterling to discuss their plans for 2019.
“And I still talk to Sterlo a fair bit,’’ Moses said.
“He’s been good for me, given me advice on games, things to try.
“Sterlo’s one of the best halfbacks to have played our game — and the best halfback Parramatta has seen — so anywhere he can give me tips, I’ll take into games and see how they go.
“And he has been giving me a few tips this year … he's been good for me.”
And as for what they discuss?
“Everything,” Moses continued. “Although what we chat about, that’s strictly between me and Sterlo.
“I don’t feel like I need to let everyone know what's happening.
“But I do give him a call every now and then.
“If I’m struggling or need to ask for tips, he's a great analyst of the game and anytime you can get tips from him you take it.”
Asked if he had considered the Sterlo Curse before signing on with the Eels, Mitchell shrugged: “I don’t look into that at all. I'm not trying to be the next Sterlo, or better than Sterlo … so I didn't come here looking into anything like that.”