Mitchell Moses’ halves partner dilemma for Kangaroos Tour and Eels 2026 NRL season
I’m just going into camp, I’m going to take it however it is,” Moses said.
“If I’m playing, if I’m not, then I’m learning as much as possible, and I’m trying to prep the boys as much as possible,” Moses said.
“It’s going to take a whole squad to win The Ashes over there.”
Moses, who will take his wife Bri and his two daughters, Aspyn and Blair, to the UK with him, is hoping to link up with Cleary, who in their only previous time playing together, led NSW to an 18-6 win over Queensland in State of Origin I this year.
“He’s such a great player, he’s probably the best halfback in our game,” Moses said of Cleary.
“Whatever I could take out of his game, I tried to in (Origin) camp. But we go on tour together now, and I’m sure whoever Kevvy (coach Kevin Walters) picks there, I’m sure they will do a good job.”
Moses will arrive in England next week, where he will compete for a position to play in the first Ashes Tour since 2003.
KANGAROO OR WALLABY
There is one thing Moses is almost more excited about than his selection on the Kangaroos Tour — not being in the conversation for R360.
The rebel rugby competition, which teammate Zac Lomax has been heavily linked with, hasn’t reached out to Moses, and he says it’s making his life easier.
However, the idea of rugby union isn’t completely out of the question either.
“Rugby excites me, it definitely excites me,” Moses said.
“I don’t have to think about it at the moment, and I don’t want to think about it, which is good.”
Moses, 31, has four years remains on his deal at the Eels that he extended earlier this year.
Mitchell Moses chats with Code Sports ahead of the Ashes tour, where he'll represent Australia.
MOSES’ OTHER HALVES PARTNER
While Moses is fighting to partner Cleary in the Kangaroos’ halves, there is also the battle at Parramatta as to who will play alongside him next season.
Joash Papalii came to the Eels as a fullback, but Moses believes the 21-year-old can be the five-eighth to help lead them back to glory.
With Dylan Brown joining Newcastle next season, coach Jason Ryles dropped the five-eighth to begin preparing for the future, thrusting Papalii into the No.6 jersey. Moses says that experience, and a full pre-season in the halves, will ready Papalii to be a success in the role.
“I think he just brings X factor,” Moses said.
“He brings the unknown and just goes out there and plays footy, and that’s exactly the way the game is going.
“Joash is coming in, asking questions all the time, and with a pre-season under his belt in his position, who knows what he can do.”
THE RYLES EFFECT
When Ryles was announced as Parramatta’s new head coach following the departure of Brad Arthur, Moses was on the phone to him daily, talking about the future of the Eels and where the pair could take their team.
More than a year, and an 11th-place finish, later, those same phone calls are happening. However, Moses and Ryles know there are no excuses for another season of missing the top eight, with expectation growing on the back of a three-game winning streak to end 2025.
“Having that relationship with the head coach has definitely helped us in what we’re trying to do at the club,” Moses said.
“He’s been really clear with everything we’re trying to do, and now every single player has bought in.
“If you don’t play finals it’s a failure.
“It’s easy to play the footy we did when the shackles were off and we couldn’t make finals, but going into next season teams are going to be ready for us, they have seen us play and that’s going to be the biggest challenge.”
Even in the mature stage of his career, Moses has credited Ryles for helping him find the best form of his career, with his experience both playing and coaching becoming a valuable asset for the 31-year-old.
“He played a lot of games, and then obviously coached, learning off good coaches like Trent Robinson and Craig Bellamy, anything around football I can give him a call for,” Moses said.
BUILDING HIS FUTURE
Capping off his year with a family trip to the UK, Moses has a busy off season not only travelling, but building his new home.
When not wearing the Eels’ captain’s armband, Moses has had his architect hat on throughout the year, designing a new home for his family.
“We gave the architect what we wanted and he brought it to life,” he said.
“I have been able to sit from afar and enjoy it.”
