Mitchell Moses out for ‘up to 8 weeks’, leaving Eels in disarray

Long-suffering Eels fans have been dealt a brutal blow after the club confirmed the worst possible news after the side’s win over Manly.

Mitchell Moses is out for the Eels for at least two months. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images

The Parramatta Eels’ season has been dealt a bitter blow after the club confirmed halfback Mitchell Moses will miss up to two months with a broken foot.

Moses was the man of the match as he led the Eels to a 28-24 win over arch rivals Manly on Sunday.

Watch every game of every round this NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

But 24 hours later, the news would leave the long-suffering fans heartbroken as the club tries to end the longest drought in rugby league, having not tasted premiership success since 1986.

Now at 38 years, much has been put on the back of Moses since he joined the club from the Wests Tigers in 2017.

“The Parramatta Eels can provide the following update following the Round 3 win over the Manly Sea Eagles,” the club wrote in a statement on Monday night.

“Mitchell Moses suffered a fracture to his left foot and will require surgery.

“The halfback will be out for up to 8 weeks.”

It’s horror news for the Eels star. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images

The Sydney Morning Herald’s Michael Chammas tweeted the Eels had sent Moses for surgery on Monday night from an injury suffered in the final 15 minutes of the match against Manly.

NRL Physio said a usual recovery range for an injury of that nature is 8-10 weeks, while there have been suggestions it could be up to 12 weeks.

“Recovery time frame dependent on specific location in the foot, but if fracture confirmed likely best case – 6 weeks. Could extend out to 3 months,” NRL Physio wrote on X.

“Crazy week gets worse!”

It continues the suggestion the Eels’ No. 7 jersey is cursed, as no halfback since Peter Sterling has been able to lead the club to a premiership.

It’s a bitter blow not only for Eels fans but also for the NSW Blues as Moses was the incumbent after replacing Panthers half Nathan Cleary through injury last season.

Cleary will also be out due to a hamstring injury and is facing a spell on the sidelines himself which will give new Blues coach Michael Maguire some sleepless nights.

But Moses’ injury is set to send shockwaves through the Eels’ premiership hopes, with the likes of rookie Ethan Sanders, 2023 fill-in half Daejarn Asi or back-up hooker Brendan Hands potential replacements.

Whoever gets the nod, they’re big boots to fill. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Sanders, who has had interest from the Raiders and Panthers but can’t sign with any other team until at least round six, would be the most like-for-like replacement, although Hands played five-eighth and Asi played fullback for the Eels in NSW Cup over the weekend.

Asi generally plays five-eighth, but replaced NRL debutant Blaize Talagi in the No. 1 jersey in the Eels’ 40-20 NSW Cup loss to the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.

The 19-year-old Sanders has been compared with Storm legend Cooper Cronk and starred for the NSW Under-19s last season, as well as being named the player of the match in the SG Ball Grand Final and leading the Eels’ under-21 Jersey Flegg side to their first finals campaign since 2018. The side ultimately lost in the preliminary final.

It will make team selection Tuesday all the more interesting for the Eels.

While the injury news will be a headache for coach Brad Arthur, the club will welcome back centre Bailey Simonsson and winger Maika Sivo for their Easter Monday clash against the Wests Tigers.

They are expected to replace Talagi and Morgan Harper in the Eels lineup.