How Mitchell Moses helped Eels nab Dylan Walker

Mitchell Moses has emerged a key figure in Parramatta’s acquisition of Dylan Walker, with the ex-Warrior explaining his reason for leaving New Zealand.

It was family that convinced Dylan Walker to return to Sydney but it was a phone call to Mitchell Moses that convinced him to pull on a blue and gold jersey.

The former South Sydney premiership-winner will make his first appearance for Parramatta during Saturday’s clash with St George Illawarra following a mid-season move across the Tasman.

Walker, 30, experienced a career renaissance at the Warriors over the last two years but was last week granted an immediate release by the Auckland-based club.

He said it was family which drove him back to Sydney, where he grew up, and the desire to watch his children grow up.

“Just coming back to Sydney, I’ve got all my family here,” Walker said on Wednesday.

“My young boy’s back here so just having that sense of family around you. I was over in NZ by myself … I was on the phone most of the time.

“Just that sense of family was missing.

“The Warriors were good about it, they knew my situation. Parramatta gave me an opportunity which I’m really grateful for.”

Walker spent the early parts of his career at centre and five-eighth.

Dylan Walker says family was behind his decision to leave the Warriors. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images.

But under Warriors coach Andrew Webster, Walker discovered arguably his best football since he played two games for NSW in 2016, mostly playing at lock and off the bench as a middle forward.

And he anticipated he would play a similar role at the Eels.

“A similar role to what I’ve been doing over at the Warriors and even at Manly, controlling that middle, helping the halves out,” Walker said of what coach Jason Ryles wanted out of him.

“There’s quality players here and that’s what I saw. It just needs some confidence. The game of rugby league, nothing’s ever going to be perfect … I’ve been in this situation before at Manly where we lost four in a row.

“There’s a lot of potential here, I saw that. There’s a quality football side here… You work hard and you add one or two things here and there and you can go off and running.”

Mitchell Moses helped convince Dylan Walker to come to Parramatta. Photo: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

The Eels are 0-4 and have badly missed skipper and playmaker Moses in the opening rounds while he recovers from a foot injury.

The club on Wednesday revealed Moses was targeting a round 9 return against Cronulla - having initially earmarked a comeback as early as round 7.

Walker and Moses were teammates together 13 years ago as members of the Australian Schoolboys side.

And when Walker was considering a move back to Australia, he rang his old teammate to broach the idea of coming to Parramatta.

“When I was thinking about coming back (to Sydney), I spoke to him on the phone. And I said ‘look, if I come there, is that something you’d be happy with?’

“He made it real comfortable.

“I’m no Michael Jordan or LeBron James but I know my role, I know I can help him and where I can take a load off and he can just see the game.

“I know he sees it well already, he’s a great player. If I just help him I’ve done my job.”