Parramatta star hits back as contract stand-off continues
A round 1 loss and more questions about his future pushed Parramatta star Mitchell Moses to fire up on Monday.
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There’ll be fireworks on Friday night when Mitchell Moses runs out for NRL game 200, but the explosions came early at a fiery press conference on Monday when the Eels halfback was quizzed about his ongoing contract negotiations.
Moses had hoped to have his new deal sorted before the season opener, but that wasn’t the case, as Parramatta went down to the Storm in an epic golden point contest.
It’s been reported the sticking point in the contract is whether Moses can get five years on his deal instead of four, with the Wests Tigers still in the race to sign the talented playmaker.
The 28-year-old hit back at suggestions he was being greedy for wanting the most out of what could be his final deal in the NRL, and asked people to be patient as he and his manager try to lock in an extension with the Eels.
“These things take time; I’ve just left it with my management and they’ve let me fully focus on football,” he said. “Hopefully it’s done soon.
“I don’t know if it’s being greedy. They don’t know about the numbers that are involved. I think people are just guessing; journalists are guessing and reporters are guessing what the numbers are. They’ve got no idea.”
Moses also dismissed suggestions he’d put a self-imposed deadline of round 1 for the contract to be sorted, telling News Corp on February 7: “I think I’ve handled this situation a lot better than what I have in the past.
“I’m fully focused on Parramatta and coming to training, where I can rip in with the boys. Hopefully everything else sorts itself out before the new year.”
He echoed that sentiment on Monday.
“I didn’t put a deadline on it,” he said.
“I would’ve liked it to happen then, but it wasn’t like I said it has to be done. I would’ve liked it to be done by then, but these things take time. I’ve worried about my footy, and Parra have been great with that.
“I’ve got management to make that decision for me. They worry about that side and I worry about football. That’s why I’ve got a manager.”
Moses still has an option for next year in his favour if he wants to take it, but the plan is clearly to extend the deal for as long as possible to secure his future at the club he took to last season’s grand final.
It’s why coach Brad Arthur hasn’t pressured him into making a call.
“He’s been good with me,” Moses said.
“We’ve spoken about it. We don’t even have to have those conversations, but he’s been fantastic through the process. I’ve got management who worry about that stuff, and I worry about football.”
Things did get tense at the club’s training facility in Kellyville when Moses was asked why the deal still hadn’t been done. The halfback also had a message to the Eels’ faithful about staying patient through the process.
“What’s dragging on? I’ve still got another year on my contract. It’s a big decision I have to make. Parramatta have been really good through the whole time,” he said.
“I understand it’s frustrating (for the fans), but these things take time. It’s a big decision I have to make. It’s a big decision at this stage of my career … and I have to weigh up every option.”
Moses’ future will likely be brought up in the build up to Friday’s game against the Sharks, with the loser to be 0-2.
It’s a milestone match for Moses, who is confident his relationship with new dummy-half Josh Hodgson will only get better after a few teething issues against Melbourne.
“I thought he was probably our best player,” Moses said of the Englishman.
“Obviously our combinations are going to grow and they’re going to get better. It’s going to take time, but I thought he was fantastic for us and we can probably help him out a bit more if anything by finishing off our sets.”
Originally published as Parramatta star hits back as contract stand-off continues
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