NRL transfer news 2023: Eels chairman Sean McElduff tells critics to ‘back off’ Mitchell Moses
Parramatta chairman Sean McElduff has called on critics pressuring Mitchell Moses to hurry up and make a call on his future to back off. See the latest transfer news.
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Parramatta chairman Sean McElduff has called on critics pressuring high-profile halfback Mitch Moses into a decision on his future to back off.
Moses continues to procrastinate over his future despite having this season to run on his current deal with an option his way for 2024.
The Eels playmaker has been pushed to settle his future but is yet to commit to either re-signing at Parramatta or defecting to Wests Tigers.
Ahead of Friday night’s big game at Cronulla at CommBank Stadium,
McElduff said detractors should refrain from forcing Moses to make a decision.
“It is a big decision and he is definitely entitled to take the time he needs to make that decision,” McElduff said. “There are a whole host of factors that go into that.
“No-one is pushing him. Mitch has publicly expressed a desire to stay at the club which is a positive for us and I believe that.
“He is certainly not getting pushed by anyone at the club to hurry up.
“His manager had a job to do and the club has a job to do and sometimes our goals are a little bit different. Everyone is just trying to do their job.
“It has had more airplay from journos than it has from anyone at the club, his manager or Mitchell.
“Mitchell has played his best footy at Parramatta and he has a good team around him, a good coach and good amenities.
”The club is going pretty well. We have played in finals for the last four years and he has obviously been a big part of it.”
Moses is likely to remain at Parramatta but continues to consider a massive contract from Wests Tigers.
Eels coach Brad Arthur has deliberately remained at arm’s length from coercing Moses.
“Everybody at the club - and Mitchell for that matter – would like something to happen sooner rather than later but things just have to take their time,” McElduff said.
“If that is the time he needs then he should take it.
“I want him to stay and he knows I want him to stay and his manager knows I want him to stay. We are working with his manager to get him to stay.
“Brad has stayed out of it and he said as much to Mitchell a long time ago - that he would leave it to the club and his management to work it out.
“And that’s the way it has played out.
“Mitch has an option for 2024 and that doesn’t expire until round ten. He doesn’t have to make a decision for 2025, 2026 or 2027 if he doesn’t want to.”
The Sharks and Eels lost their round one games.
TRBOJEVIC SET TO MAKE CALL ON FUTURE
—Dean Ritchie
Manly is about to lock down the third Trbojevic.
Rising star Ben – younger brother to Tom and Jake – is poised to sign a new deal at the Sea Eagles until the end of 2024.
Off contract after this season, Ben was offered a longer extension but opted for an additional one-year.
Tom and Jake are locked in at Brookvale until the end of 2026.
“Ben and his manager have agreed to terms. He is incredibly happy at the club and loves playing with his brothers,” said Manly recruitment manager, Scott Fulton.
“He is really enjoying his footy and will play a big part in the club’s campaign this season. Everyone can see he is getting better with every game.”
The Sea Eagles continue to discuss re-signing key players Haumole Olakau’atu and Tolu Koula.
Olakau’atu, under contract until the end of 2025, and Koula (2024) will certainly attract considerable interest from rival clubs if allowed onto the open market.
Ben, 21, played a key role off the bench in Manly’s 31-6 win over Canterbury last Saturday.
Manly has the bye this weekend.
EXCLUSIVE: WHY FIFITA KNOCKED BACK BRONCOS AND RAIDERS
—Peter Badel, Brent Read & Travis Meyn
David Fifita has revealed how Tino Fa’asuamaleaui played a key role in his decision to knock back Canberra and the Broncos and ink a new Titans deal in his quest to deliver the Gold Coast’s first premiership.
Fifita ended months of uncertainty by inking a three-year extension with the Titans and the hulking back-rower outlined his two-pronged goal - to reclaim his Queensland Origin jumper and break the Coast’s 16-year title hoodoo.
There were fears Gold Coast’s $3 million man could quit the club in the face of a big-money offer from the Raiders, while the off-contract Fifita had also been shopped by his management to his former club the Broncos.
BURNING QUESTIONS: WHAT FIFITA’S DEAL MEANS FOR TITANS AND NRL RIVALS
But after pledging his future to the Titans in a $2.4 million retention coup, Fifita declared skipper Fa’asuamaleaui was a pivotal figure in convincing him to chase a premiership dynasty on the Gold Coast.
“I want to be here and I want to win. I’m excited to sign a new deal,” Fifita said.
“We are all around 23 (years old), we are a similar age group, we are tight and want to build.
“Now that I have done it (committed to the Titans), let’s go, we have the crew and we want to be together for many years ahead.
It is understood Fifita’s extension is worth around $800,000 annually, which represents a downgrade on the three year, $3.2 million deal that saw him sensationally quit the Broncos for a new chapter on the Gold Coast.
But given the enormous pressure on Fifita to succeed as the Titans’ $1 million man, the pay cut could be the perfect pressure valve that helps the 110kg wrecking ball recapture his blockbusting best at Parkwood.
The Titans had some nervous moments. They were hopeful of announcing Fifita’s retention before round one, but that time frame was delayed when the Broncos entered the race as a shock contender following the loss of Farnworth and Flegler for next season.
Speculation was rife Fifita was unsettled at the Titans - he was benched and even briefly moved to the centres last season - fuelling the belief he might consider a Red Hill homecoming.
Justin Holbrook was always quietly confident Fifita would stay at the Titans, who view the 23-year-old and his good mate Tino Fa’asuamaleaui as key planks in their quest for a watershed premiership over the next decade.
Holbrook paid tribute to Fifita’s loyalty.
“To have David commit to the Titans shows he believes in what we are building and it gives us great confidence as a club,” Holbrook said.
“As coach, I’ve seen David’s commitment first hand and that started weeks ago preparing for this season, working hard to be fit to perform at his best.
“We saw that in our first round win over the Tigers, with the work David has put in on full show.
“We have a core group of young guys committed to making our community proud here on the Coast and David is a big part of that.
“I’m excited David’s decided he wants to be a Titan long-term and I’m excited to work with him as we all look to bring success to our region over the next few years.”
The Keebra Park product has played 85 NRL games and was outstanding in the Titans’ 22-10 defeat of the Wests Tigers on Sunday.
Reluctant to enter a bidding war, the Broncos now have a handy war chest in the salary cap and will use those funds to target a middle forward to fill the Flegler void.
Fifita’s decision has ramifications for his partner Shaylee Bent, one of the game’s elite female players.
Bent, in talks with the Titans and Raiders, had delayed a decision on her future while she waited for Fifita to have more clarity around his destination in 2024.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart also met with Fifita’s mother Gwen when he was holidaying on the Gold Coast over the Christmas period.
But when Bent ruled out joining Canberra last week, it was an emphatic sign Fifita had whittled it down to a two-horse race between the Titans and Broncos, with whom he played 44 games after his NRL debut in 2018.
The Raiders are now expected to turn their attention to other targets as they look to bolster their back row for next season. Cronulla second-rower Teig Wilton and Manly youngster Samuela Fainu are believed to be on their radar while another option is Sea Eagles hulk Haumole Olakau’atu, who has two years remaining on his deal but is already in the sights of rival clubs.
Despite criticism over his price tag, Fifita has the potential to be the best forward in the code.
The Tongan Test tearaway scored 17 times in his maiden campaign at the Titans in 2021 - breaking the club’s season tryscoring record - before struggling for form last year as the Coast crashed out of finals contention.
But the Titans are hopeful the new deal will be the springboard for Fifita to produce the best football of his career in the coming seasons.
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Originally published as NRL transfer news 2023: Eels chairman Sean McElduff tells critics to ‘back off’ Mitchell Moses
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