Mitchell Moses has revealed the years-long transformation his game underwent in order to become NSW coach Brad Fittler’s go-to man this week.
Moses came from the clouds to earn the Blues No. 7 jersey on Tuesday as Nathan Cleary’s replacement, following Parramatta’s rough start to the season.
In the wake of Cleary’s hamstring tear, all the talk around his replacement was focused on reigning Dally M Medallist Nicho Hynes and Broncos veteran Adam Reynolds.
It wasn’t until former NSW coach Phil Gould nominated Moses as his ideal replacement last week that the Eels halfback’s name genuinely entered the public discussion.
The trio auditioned in Round 15 with mixed results. Reynolds was impressive without setting the world on fire, Hynes had one of the worst games of his career and Moses destroyed the Bulldogs in a masterclass.
By the end of the long weekend, Moses had lobbed into $1.10 to add to his sole Blues appearance in 2021 and play in Fittler’s must-win Game 2 at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday.
Fittler, who is coaching for his future in Brisbane, has relationship with Gould that goes back decades confirmed he consulted during the selection process.
“I always talk to Gus - he’s good conversation - and I think we both see the same thing (in Moses),” Fittler said inside Blues camp on Tuesday.
“He’s a much more controlled player than he was five years ago and the kicking side of it is so important. He walks towards a challenge and that’s important.
“The last time Nathan went down, Mitchell played and he did a great job, set up a couple of tries and he did it with a broken back so I don’t think his toughness can be questioned.
“I’ve always been a fan of Mitchell. Watching him play yesterday gave me a lot more confidence.
“He was tough, they were chasing him, they were after him and he found a way to get away, whether it was with some smart kicking or passing or running, he just came up with the answers. It won’t be too much different next Wednesday.”
Moses agreed that his game has undergone significant transformation and said it began when he left the Wests Tigers to join Brad Arthur’s Eels halfway through 2017.
“Ever since I came to the club in 2017, BA pretty much changed the way I play,” Moses said.
“I pretty much would go out there (for the Tigers) with no game plan at all and try to do whatever and hope it pulled off.
“That’s how I played my footy as a junior and coming through, and he taught me to slow down and taught me how to play in the halfback role and control games. So he’s been massive.
“I’ve played over 200 games now and it’s probably about the temperament of when to play, when to grind out games, control the game and it’s taken a while to come to this but I feel like I’m in control of what I’m doing at the moment.”
Moses also found praise for former Parramatta halves coach Andrew Johns, the club’s current assistant Trent Barrett, and Fittler - who he played under while representing Lebanon at the 2017 World Cup.
“I had Joey not long ago, he was a pretty big influence on my footy a few years ago and then having Baz this year, he’s been outstanding for me,” Moses said.
“(Barrett) brought a lot of calmness to my game. I’ll definitely be in contact with him this week, I get a lot out of our chats.
“(Freddy and I) have got a good relationship. I know how he coaches and he knows how I play. He’s been a big part of my career in some aspects, coming from the World Cup he’s had a big influence there on me and ever since then we’ve kept pretty close.”
Moses played in Parrmatta’s grand final loss to Penrith last year but said the experience will only improve the Blues chances next week.
“I’ve played those types of games and hopefully learnt a few lessons, hopefully I can take those out next Wednesday and do the job,” he said.
“It’s a high-pressure scenario but you’ve got to go out there and do your job. You don’t want to let the bloke down beside you.
“I just want to go out there and do my job and get the win.”
