Mitchell Moses asked Parramatta’s medical staff if he could keep playing despite fracturing his eye-socket

Mitchell Moses’ season-ending injury has compounded Parramatta’s stunning fall from grace that has seen them go from 2022 grand finalists to 2023 also-rans.

Mitchell Moses is set to miss the rest of the season. Picture: Getty Images

Mitchell Moses asked Eels medical staff if he could continue playing with a fractured eye-socket in a bid to help save their season from slipping further into the abyss.

In a testament to Moses’ courage and bravery, the Eels halfback suffered the injury just five-minutes into his side’s heavy loss to the Broncos on Friday night.

He lasted another 35-minutes before being ruled out of the match at halftime, but not before asking Parramatta officials if he could return for the second-half.

Moses’ season-ending injury has compounded Parramatta’s stunning fall from grace that has seen them go from 2022 grand finalists to 2023 also-rans.

Thumped 54-10 by the Broncos and dropping to 10th on the NRL ladder, questions are now being asked on how Parramatta have let their premiership-window close in such meek fashion.

The inability to re-sign grand final squad members including Isaiah Papalii (Wests Tigers) and Marata Niukore (Warriors) and hooker Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs) have proven disastrous decisions for the Eels.

Mitchell Moses played a further 35-minutes after fracturing his eye-socket. Picture: Getty Images

Ryan Matterson‘s decision to accept a three match suspension over a fine to begin the year, long-term injuries throughout the season to gun backrower Shaun Lane and representative prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard have also contributed to the Eels demise, as did the suspension for off-field issues of Dylan Brown.

Campbell-Gillard and winger Maika Sivo will both return from suspension against the Roosters at CommBank Stadium next Friday night in what is a must-win game for Parramatta.

Following the Roosters, the Eels face Penrith before finishing the season with a bye.

Rookie half Daejarn Asi is expected to replace the injured Moses with Brown needing to take the leading hand in steering the Eels.

“(The loss) makes it tough, but we’re not giving up,” Eels coach Brad Arthur said after being beaten by the Broncos.

“We’re going to keep fighting.

Mitchell Moses wanted to return to the field. Picture: Getty Images

“Until it’s over, we’re going to keep fighting. We’ve got two games and a bye and we’ll just worry about next week and reassess when we get back and see.

“There’s a bit of carnage here in terms of some injuries, but we get Reg (Reagan Campbell Gillard) back and Maika (Sivo) next week, and we’re just going to fight on.

“This team has been fighting all year and we are going to continue to fight.”

Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson echoed his coach’s sentiments.

“We’ve just got to keep fighting that’s what we’ve done,” Gutherson said.

“Obviously, tonight didn’t go our way and we’ve lost Mitch, so we just have to keep fighting; whoever steps in will do a job and see what we can do in the last two weeks.

“We‘ve got a really tight-knit group here and we’re not going go into the next two games just playing them, we’re going to go out to win and that’s what we’ve done all year.”