NRL Transfer Market: Mitchell Moses commits to Eels, Dragons sign Gerard Beale to boost backline stocks
Mitchell Moses has decided on his future at Parramatta, with the Eels now seeking to secure the long-term services of two other big-name stars.
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In-form halfback Mitchell Moses has committed his future to Parramatta, as the club now turns its attention to locking-up two more pieces of the Eels spine puzzle.
Moses was a prime recruitment target for Kevin Walters’ struggling Brisbane Broncos outfit but the 26-year never had any intention of leaving the Eels.
“It’s pretty close at the moment, I’ve loved my time at Parramatta and I really want to extend [my contract]. It’s in the final stages at the moment. We’re sorting out some things with my management but hopefully that will be done in the next week or so,” Moses said at an event to promote Parramatta’s blockbuster Sunday clash against Manly on Fox League and Kayo.
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Moses, who joined the Eels from the Wests Tigers mid-season in 2017, has a player option in his favour for season 2022 and is currently negotiating the length of the extension beyond next year.
It’s believed Moses will stay on at Parramatta until at least the end of season 2024.
With Moses all but locked-up, the western Sydney powerhouse club will now turn its attention to retaining fullback Clint Gutherson and hooker Reed Mahoney beyond next season.
The Eels want to get the Gutherson deal done sooner rather than later in a bid to avoid the protracted contract talks which dominated headlines in 2019.
Coach Brad Arthur has had the unusual luxury of fielding the same first choice spine combination of Moses, Gutherson, Mahoney and Dylan Brown since 2019 and wants that maintain that continuity beyond 2022.
While the NRL has taken a hard line stance on contact with the head and neck, which resulted in a record 14 sin-bins and 3 send off last weekend, the Eels won’t be peeling back their “aggression” on Sunday against the Sea Eagles at Bankwest Stadium.
But Moses does believe the strict policing of the policy, like with the introduction of the set restarts, will allow playmakers and smaller strike players to have an even bigger impact on the game.
“100 per cent it will [give playmakers more confidence to take on the line], but you also don’t want to take the aggression out of the game.
“That’s why people love watching footy.
“And as a team, we don’t want to take our aggression out of the game either.
“As a team at Parramatta, we pride ourselves on our aggression and how we play our footy. We’re a big powerful team and that’s how we play.
“Obviously, we have to be careful because of what’s happened on the weekend.
Fellow Kayo ambassador and Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic said players and coaches have no choice but to get on board with the tough stance on head and neck contact, or risk being at a competitive disadvantage.
“It’s something that has to happen but I think it will take time to find that consistency with it. It’s something the clubs will have to focus on, you don’t want a player off the field for 10 minutes, it’s a real disadvantage,” Trbojevic said.
INJURY-HIT DRAGONS BOOST BACKLINE STOCKS
– Michael Carayannis
St George Illawarra’s injury plight has meant they have brought a player out of retirement with the ex-Dragon Gerard Beale returning to the club.
Beale retired at the end of last year but has spent the seeing playing in the Queensland Cup. The utility back spent two seasons at the Dragons between 2013-14 before moving to Cronulla where he was part of their premiership-winning roster.
And in good news for the club, Matt Dufty could make his return as early as next week with scans on his injured shoulder revealed he did not need surgery. The fullback will miss Friday’s clash against the Sharks but depending on how his AC joint settles he could return as early as St George Illwarra’s round 12 clash against the Tigers.
The Dragons’ brief interest in ex-Tigers skipper Moses Mbye has also passed with the club now waiting for an outcome on Jack de Belin’s May 28 court hearing before pursuing any players.
Beale’s contract is for the rest of the season. He has played 194 top grade games.
“Gerard is a highly respected figure in our game,” St George Illawarra’s general manager of football Ben Haran said.
“To sign someone of Gerard’s character was an important factor in his recruitment.
“Gerard’s experience across his 12-year NRL career will be a handy addition to our club for the remainder of the season, given also the amount of young outside backs we have within our top squad currently.
“We have signed Gerard to a training contract in light of the injuries and suspensions our squad is currently faced with.”
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