Moses Mbye’s first question for new Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire will be to find out where he’ll be playing
There aren’t many positions Moses Mbye hasn’t played in his five-year NRL career — so the first conversation he’ll have with his new coach will be to find out where his next stop will be.
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WHEN Moses Mbye finally gets to meet new coach Michael Maguire for the first time, he will have one simple question to ask; ‘what position do you want me to play?’.
Mbye has switched between fullback, centre, five-eighth, halfback and hooker throughout his five-year career, but looked to have finally found a home in the No.1 jersey after the 2018 season he described as his most consistent.
Despite cementing himself as a top-flight fullback, Mbye does not have a preferred position. He is yet to meet or speak with incoming coach Maguire, but will get that chance when Mbye returns to training on Friday.
“I enjoyed my time there,” Mbye said of the fullback role. “It’s new to me and there was a lot of information to take in.
“I’m not quite sure how Maguire views me as a player or where he wants me to play.
“I will have a chat to Madge (Maguire) and nut out … what he wants to do footy-wise.
“I’ve played so many positions now. I’ve really covered that utility role. I’ll play wherever he wants me.
“It’s not something I’m stressed about. There is a lot to go into getting there first. You have to get these pre-seasons (done) and get fit. You always come back a bit rusty in the off-season.
“He is quite a fair coach going off reputation. If you train well in the pre-season and play well in the trials, you’ll get a crack.”
And the selfless Mybe doesn’t seem to care where he gets to have that “crack”.
“I want to play in the 17 somewhere,’’ Mybe said. “I don’t have a preference. I just like playing rugby league.
“That’s one of my best attributes — being able to cover a lot of positions.
“I enjoy it. It’s exciting and refreshing to change positions.
“I will have a chat to him, but I’ll ask him where he thinks he sees me best and that’s where I’ll play.
“Everyone is excited about having him on board. Everyone knows of his success. He knows how to win. He is passionate about winning.
“I think that’s a good culture to bring at the Tigers.”
Mbye joined the Tigers mid-season as one of Ivan Cleary’s marquee recruits. Cleary sold his vision to Mbye in his family home before he signed a four-year deal to leave Canterbury.
“Disappointing how it happened, but it’s happened,” Mbye said of Cleary’s defection to Penrith.
“You have to understand you’re in this game for a short amount of time. He had a desire to get on board and coach his son. You can’t hold that against him.
“It’s disappointing how it all panned out.
“We have a quality coach who has won a premiership here and in the Super League.
“Ivan gets what he wanted to do and go coach his boy.
“You can’t hold any grudges for people in this game because you’re in there for a short time.
“Good on him for taking it.”
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