Mitchell Moses says Wests Tigers exit ‘ripped my heart out’, slams coach Ivan Cleary

MITCHELL Moses has slammed coach Ivan Cleary over his West Tigers departure, saying suggestions he failed to give his best in his final matches left him “filthy”.

Moses was a Deliveroo rider for one unsuspecting Parra fan. Picture: Brett Costello

MITCHELL Moses says his exit from the Tigers “ripped his heart out” and suggestions he failed to put his best effort into his final matches at the club left the playmaker “pretty filthy’.

Moses has no regrets about his successful mid-season switch to Parramatta, particularly after playing finals football for the first time.

But his departure from the Tigers remains a sore point.

In a wideranging interview, Moses speaks openly about being forced out of the Tigers, the words from former coach Ivan Cleary which left him stung and how he found a home at Parramatta before their disappointing final performance.

Moses was hurt by Ivan Cleary criticism of his final days at the club.

TIGERS EXIT

Moses says he had every intention to commit long-term to the club. But that all changed upon Cleary taking charge.

“I never wanted to leave the Tigers,” Moses said. “I loved that club so much. They gave me a chance and my shot at first grade. I can’t thank them enough for that but they pulled my deal off the table.

“I always wanted to stay at the Tigers. When Ivan came to the club, he was there for a couple of days and I sat down with him and (football manager) Kelly Egan and in a meeting they pulled my deal off the table.

“It was heartbreaking. It ripped my heart out what they did.

“I didn’t see a point in staying there if they didn’t see a future with me after they pulled my deal.

“If someone comes into your work and says ‘look we don’t need you any more’, you’re not going to feel welcomed.”

Moses says he never wanted to leave the Tigers. Picture: Gregg Porteous

CLEARY RELATIONSHIP

After releasing Moses, Cleary said his final “two performances and general demeanour suggested he just wasn’t happy” while he told The Daily Telegraph last month that Moses had “put the tools down and bailed”.

Moses said Cleary’s comments hurt.

“Ivan came out and said I wasn’t putting in for two or three games,” Moses said. “You can’t put the (results) down to one player. That’s what hurt me the most. I have a lot of respect for Ivan but for him to come out and say that I was pretty filthy.

“If you look back on all those games I was touching the ball a lot more than I was touching the ball at Parramatta. It’s not like I wasn’t trying. I think he was looking for an excuse.

“It was a massive five weeks for me. It really drained me mentally. I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out.”

Moses was a Deliveroo rider for one unsuspecting Parra fan. Picture: Brett Costello

JOINING PARRAMATTA

Moses, who tested his bike riding skills when he filled in as a Deliveroo to drop off a food order to a surprised fan on Friday, knew he wanted to return to his junior club after a frank conversation with coach Brad Arthur.

“From the conversion I had with Brad I knew he wanted me straight away,” Moses said. “When you have a coach sit down with you and tell you that they have no room and are going to pull my deal off the table then I’m definitely not wanted there.

“When I sat down with Brad and let him know what happened, he wanted me straight away. That’s all I needed to see and hear.”

HALFBACK GOALS

The Eels No.7 jersey has long been problematic. But despite playing the bulk of his NRL career at five-eighth, Moses said he was comfortable with his new role.

“I felt like I was always a seven,” Moses said. “I like directing the team around. Normy (Corey Norman) makes me feel welcomed. Normy was a big reason why I came to the club. I had two sessions to (learn a whole new style of play). It felt like I was coming into first grade again.”

Moses has grown into his new role at his new club. Photo: Mark Evans

PARRA HEARTBREAK

The Eels bombed out of the finals race with a shock loss to North Queensland. Moses said players were “heartbroken”.

“We hadn’t played like that all year,” Moses said. “That was the hardest thing (to take). “The boys sat around and I don’t think anyone said anything for about an hour before everyone realised what actually happened. No one could believe it.

“I was going around asking the boys and no one had an answer. It wasn’t us. That’s what everyone was filthy on.

“We caught up after the game and had a few drinks. You could tell by the vibe. You may have been having a drink and hanging out with your mates but it just wasn’t the same.

“We didn’t want to be knocked out. We didn’t plan on it. We felt comfortable in the footy that we were playing that we could make it to the grand final and give it a shot. Everyone was gutted.”