Eels dealt brutal Mitch Moses update ahead of NRL season opener

New Eels coach Jason Ryles has been dealt a huge blow in his first season in charge with a horror Mitch Moses update.

In a brutal blow for the Eels, star halfback Mitch Moses is expected to miss at least the first six rounds of the NRL season with a foot injury.

Moses went for scans this week due to consistent pain in his left foot – the same foot he fractured almost 12 months ago and required an insertion of a screw.

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The scans revealed he had a stress reaction in his left foot and will be placed in a boot to aid his recovery, according to a statement released by the Eels on Thursday.

“Mitch has had a stress reaction in his left foot,’’ chief executive Mark O’Neill said.

“We have sought independent and expert medical opinions and following this advice, Mitch will be in a boot for a few weeks and is expected to miss six weeks of football.”

The loss of Moses is a devastating blow for rookie Eels coach Jason Ryles, whose side faces premiership heavyweights Melbourne on Sunday.

Mitch Moses is set to miss the first six weeks of the 2025 NRL season. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Moses, the club captain and chief playmaker, only managed eight games in an injury-plagued 2024 and missed his team’s last seven matches after rupturing his bicep in State of Origin Game 3.

Moses is arguably Parramatta’s most important player and will now miss clashes against the Storm, Tigers, Bulldogs, Manly, Dragons and Raiders if he spends the expected six weeks recovering.

The injury news comes just over a week after Moses re-signed with the club on a monster deal until the end of 2029.

Mitch Moses only managed eight games for the Eels last year. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

And star Parramatta recruit Zac Lomax said the omission of Moses is a “massive loss” for the club.

“It’s obviously disappointing. He’s had a great pre-season and it’s the fittest I have seen him in a long time,” he said

“He came in early compared to what he was required. He wanted to hit the ground running, he missed a heap of footy last year.

“He’s a massive loss for us. He’s our captain.

“But we’ve got a next man up mentality. For us, it’s about putting in the best performance no matter who fills that spot.

“It’s been a bit of an ongoing thing, he had it last year. He’ll do everything to get right and be back on the field sooner rather than later.”

– with NCA NewsWire