While Nathan Fien might feel unloved as he contemplates the next move of his rugby league career, Joel Moon senses he is back where he belongs at the New Zealand Warriors.
The Queenslander pair received contrasting news as the Warriors seek to address an alarming form slump when visiting a similarly troubled Canberra Raiders in the Australian capital on Sunday (4pmNZT).
Fien lost his role as starting five-eighth - and was told his contract will not be renewed - while Moon returns to his favoured position for an 11th round National Rugby League (NRL) clash.
Warriors head coach Ivan Cleary, livid after the Warriors' insipid 12-34 home defeat to North Queensland last Sunday, revealed a ruthless streak this week when acknowledging World Cup-winner Fien and Stacey Jones - the man he was recruited to replace - are incompatible as a halves pairing.
There is only room for one specialist halfback as the Warriors strive to improve on their 11th position, meaning Moon is reinstated after a brief exile in the centres.
The off-season recruit from the Brisbane Broncos started the season at five-eighth outside Fien but has spent the Warriors last two losses at centre, a reflection on his performance in the No 6 shirt and the need to fill the void left by Brent Tate.
Moon was not an instant success outside Fien - and then Jones - but he has another opportunity to build a rapport with the Kiwis legend.
"I haven't really worked with Stacey, that's what we're trying to develop now - a bit of a combination," said Moon, who is happy to let Jones navigate the Warriors around Canberra Stadium.
"Ivan wants me to get involved but Stacey controls where we move around the park. I'll just run off him."
Moon has logged game time in each of the Warriors nine matches this season and although he enjoys centre, five-eighth is the role he was contracted to play.
He was relishing the prospect of getting more touches outside Jones, reasoning he was more dangerous "with ball in hand".
Moon's naturally left-footed kicking game remains a work in progress, heaping more responsibility on Jones to keep the Raiders hemmed in their own territory - an assignment the Warriors flunked against a Johnathan Thurston-inspired Cowboys.
Cleary hoped the rejigged halves combination would also provide fullback Wade McKinnon more scope to attack given he is the Warriors most potent attacking weapon.
McKinnon, who missed the bulk of last season with a knee injury, has touched down twice in seven matches though Cleary offered mitigating circumstances.
"He's not getting the ball in the right areas," the coach said, blaming the Jones-Fien axis.
"That's part of the direction issues we've been having."
While Fien has been cast as the scapegoat, Cleary also acknowledged the halves were hamstrung by an error-prone pack that only rarely drive the side into attacking positions.
"Without a doubt we were inaccurate and turned the ball over far too often at the start of the game."
The Warriors completion rate was an unsatisfactory 28 from 45 against the Cowboys while they also conceded the first four penalties of the contest to gift Thurston a wealth of early possession.
Still, the Warriors are only three points outside the top eight and should take solace from the 14th-placed Raiders shipping 46 points against the Melbourne Storm on Monday - a side the Warriors shared a 14-14 stalemate with on Anzac Day.
But Cleary warned victory was not a given.
"It's all about attitude," Cleary said.
"It's a game we have to perform in, no doubt about that. It's time for us to really play well. Everyone's hurting."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/2433616/Moon-happy-as-Fien-fades
