NRL 2022: Mitchell Moses to head to market, Braith Anasta signs new deal at Fox Sports
Eels halfback Mitchell Moses is set to spark a transfer window frenzy as he prepares to test his value on the open market.
Parramatta half Mitchell Moses is set to spark a transfer window frenzy as he prepares to head to market on November 1.
Moses, fresh from leading the Eels to the grand final, is expected to test his value after a handful of clubs expressed interest in signing the NSW star.
His decision could yet have ramifications for his deputy Jake Arthur, who is Moses’ understudy at Parramatta. His father, Parramatta coach Brad Arthur, insisted his son didn’t need to leave the club to realise his potential given he is not only stuck behind Moses, but also five-eighth Dylan Brown.
That could change if Moses opts to take the big bucks on offer elsewhere.
“He is still young, he still has plenty of time,” Brad Arthur said.
“He will go back next year and play (NSW) Cup. He is there as back-up to Mitchell and Dylan. His role moving forward — he needs to be playing 80 minutes.
“He will go back and play Cup and enjoy his footy. If he gets an opportunity he will come up and try to do his job. But he is not Dylan and he is not Mitchell — he has to be Jake.
“They are our priorities, we want to keep Mitchell and Dylan. Jake’s priority is to keep learning from them. When it is time, it is time.
“He is here with us next year and he needs to take the opportunity to learn off those two guys. Those guys are really good. They give him so much time and look after him and coach him and teach him.
“They are not worried about him being a young bloke trying to get their position because that is not what it is about. They know their job is to teach him to be a better footballer for his own career later on.”
Jake Arthur was the target of heavy criticism at times this season but Brad insists his son will be better for the experience.
“In a couple of years time he will be better for it,” he said.
“Not many young players come into the game and have to go through the pressure he has been under. He is only going to be better for it.
“He knows that coming into the footy world with his surname - people see it as an advantage for him but it is not, it is a disadvantage.”
ANASTA SIGNS MONSTER NEW DEAL
Braith Anasta has declared he wants to host the biggest sporting events in the world after agreeing a new three-year deal to remain as the face of NRL360 on Fox Sports.
Anasta, who stepped into rugby league’s hottest seat earlier this year after the departures of Ben Ikin and Yvonne Sampson, has exceeded expectations since taking on the job alongside Paul Kent.
Now he has a new deal in his back pocket and a desire to take on more challenges.
“My goal was always to be a host,” Anasta said.
“That was my first challenge. Now I want to be the best. I want to host the biggest coverage in sport on Fox Sports whether that is rugby league or golf or any sport.
“The sky’s the limit. I feel like I am only going to get better at what I do.”
Fox Sports executive director Steve Crawley told Confidential that Anasta had been a raging success since becoming host of the network’s flagship rugby league magazine show.
“Braith ended up getting the call up and he did better than anyone ever thought he would and anyone ever has,” Crawley said.
“He did better than anyone who has been in that seat before. We have been working with Braith over a couple of years because we need a strong male host in sport.
“We needed Braith. He is not only hosting 360 but he is hosting one of the weekend days. I just think he is a credit to himself and his family.
“Braith has been in the limelight pretty much since high school and a lot of things have happened to him along the way but he has just maintained his brilliant attitude and credibility.
“He is just authentic. He really worked hard. Now he is the best in the business at what he does and that makes me happy. ”
Anasta was a star in his own right as a player, playing more than 280 games at Canterbury, the Sydney Roosters and the Wests Tigers. He may yet exceed those achievements in his broadcasting career.
Asked who he would handle another three years butting heads with his sparring partner Kent, Anasta said: “He makes the show.
“He is extremely controversial and people either love or hate him, or his ideas. It brings conflicts and it brings conversation. It creates the show. I love working with him.
“It is a dream come true. I came into the role with big shoes to fill with Vonny and Benny. It was intimidating but also something I had worked the last 15 years for.
“It has been an amazing journey and I have loved every minute of it.”
FRESH FOOTAGE REVEALS TWIST IN LUAI ‘KICK’ CONSPIRACY
Footage has emerged of the Jarome Luai “kick” that shows nothing more than incidental contact by the Panthers five-eighth which sparked a war of words between the two clubs.
Parramatta’s Ryan Matterson took exception to being charged for a crusher tackle while saying Luai escaped unpunished for his actions.
However, footage obtained by Sport Confidential clearly shows Luai make minimal contact with his shin on Parramatta back-rower Isaiah Papali’I in the first half of Sunday’s grand final.
In layman’s terms, the incident would not have bruised a grape.
The camera angle shown on the broadcast presented a different viewpoint where it looked like Luai kicked out at Papali’I while the Penrith five-eighth was getting to dummy half. But another angle shows why Luai went unpunished by the referee and the match review committee.
Matterson quipped: “Considering Jarome Luai is kicking players and he didn’t get cited. It makes you think ‘Where is this game heading?’”
Luai took to social media to respond to Matterson’s remark with a series of crying emoji faces after sharing Matterson’s comments.
DRAGONS STAR’S BRUTAL ‘NO HUNT’ PROVISO
St George Illawarra captain Ben Hunt has urged Jayden Sullivan to follow his path and stay at the club despite the young Dragons half requesting an immediate release.
Sullivan formally asked for a release to leave the Dragons to join Canterbury on Thursday morning – a day after Hunt inked a rich two-year extension.
Fellow half Sullivan is contracted until the end of the 2025 season and only agreed to remain at the club on the proviso that Hunt would not be at the club.
New coach Cameron Ciraldo’s Bulldogs have earmarked Sullivan to be Matt Burton’s long-term halves partner.
Hunt wants Sullivan to stay at the club.
“We haven’t had an in-depth conversation but I’d like him to stay,” Hunt said. “He is a good young kid.
“In time he can sit down and learn. I played off the bench for the first four or five years of my career and it set me up for where I am now.
“Young kids really want to get out and play and show them what they can do. If he wants to leave and get that opportunity then I’ll fully back him. I’d like him to stay.”
Sullivan is the second young Dragon to request a release since St George Illawarra’s season ended after the club rejected fullback Tyrell Sloan’s bid to join Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins. Sullivan’s potential arrival at the Bulldogs will have ramifications for Kyle Flanagan, who is contracted until the end of 2023.
Flanagan played 20 games this season, despite starting the year in reserve grade as head of football Phil Gould made him off limits to the NRL squad for the first month of the season.
PENE RETURNS TO STORM
Aaron Pene will return to the Storm after just one season with the Warriors. Pene signed with the Warriors on a two-year deal but after just 14 games away he will return to Melbourne.
Pene played two seasons with Melbourne featuring in 10 games.
KANGAROOS TOE THE FISHING LINE
Kangaroos officials have identified potential fishing spots for Latrell Mitchell as they look to ensure the South Sydney superstar is comfortable in his surroundings in England.
Every member of the Australian squad — both players and officials — were asked to fill out a survey when they entered camp in Sydney. The questionnaire was designed to find out not just personal information, but also their hobbies.
“You need to provide an environment where it is very enjoyable for them,” Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said. “You provide an environment where they can prepare well but because a lot of them haven’t been away, we have to service their needs.
“We have done questionnaires already about what their interests are, what their hobbies are, what they like doing in their spare time.
“That is just as important because it is the back of a long year.”
WORLD CUP BOOST FOR ROOSTERS SENSATION
Sydney Roosters sensation Siua Wong is poised to make his international debut for Fiji at the World Cup — only a matter of months after rejecting a million-dollar deal from the Dolphins.
Wong, a star of the Roosters’ SG Ball and NSW Cup sides, went close to making his NRL bow this year after being named in the Roosters’ extended squad.
He has already won praise from Phil Gould, who claimed that Wong could be the next big thing in rugby league. Now he gets his chance on the international stage, having rejected the opportunity to join the Dolphins next season.
Confidential understands that the Dolphins made a first offer to the teenager of nearly $1 million over three years. When that was rejected, they returned with an offer that breached the seven-figure mark.
Wong stuck with the Roosters and most good judges expect the teenage back rower to make his debut at some point next season.
CIRALDO’S EMOTIONAL FAREWELL
A visibly emotional Cameron Ciraldo packed up his Panthers desk on Wednesday as he prepares to take on the job at Canterbury. Ciraldo has been a key component of the Panthers club since joining Penrith as a player in 2012. He became emotional when farewelling staff.
ROOS’ PLAN TO SLEEP EASY
Australian players took flight for the UK on Thursday night armed with specially designed glasses to help them counter jet-lag.
The Kangaroos are hoping to fast-track their acclimatisation by preparing as best they can on the flight. Each player will have to wear glasses – Dreamers Lucid Sleep – to block blue and green light.
“It’s really important to transition the players travelling such a big distance,” said Australia’s elite performance manager Troy Thomson. “We’ve got a few little ideas to help it. A lot of players haven’t been there before.
“There is a relatively short turnaround from when we land and when we play our first game. We started the transition in Australia around getting the right hydration and different items that will help them on the flight.
“There is a high risk of infection. The glasses increase melatonin levels and induces sleep.
“That will help transition in UK time. They will wear them just before they go to sleep as a precursor to the sleeping phase.”
Most countries have already landed in the UK with a host of warm-up matches this weekend. Australia’s first game is a pool match against Fiji on October 16.
The players flew out on business class after a light training session on Thursday.
“During the first leg we wanted them to stay awake even though it is night time in Australia,” Thomson said. “The plan is to be nice and refreshed when we land and be ready to go.”
HASTINGS DELIGHTS YOUNG FAN
Shoutout to Tigers playmaker Jackson Hastings who is not only giving fans a behind the scenes look at his comeback from injury but he has taken the time out to reach out to a young supporter. Hastings received a social media message about a nine-year-old fan who was in hospital on their birthday. Without hesitation, Hastings jumped on FaceTime and had a chat with the youngster.
A man of his word @JackoHastings !
— Jordan Prime (@PrimeO) October 1, 2022
This boy has a smile from ear to ear. Such a much needed lift after the last few days. True credit to @WestsTigerspic.twitter.com/R24ueyhbjO
PVL, ABDO JOIN INTERNATIONAL BOARD
Significant change is coming to the International Rugby League board.
Current directors Peter Beattie and Wayne Pearce will step down after the World Cup. Beattie has served two terms on the board. Both are part of the ARL Commission.
They will be replaced by NRL boss Andrew Abdo and ARLC chairman Peter V’landys. Fellow commissioner Megan Davis will be a permanent proxy.
“I am particularly pleased Wayne and I have been able to strongly support rugby league in the Pacific nations along with Australia and New Zealand,” Beattie said. “The Pacific is now the powerhouse of rugby league in the world.”
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