https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...n/news-story/60e66afaf34a1d31b1bbcbd94f5f64e0
Mitch Moses vows to use the Eels’ wooden spoon as motivation
Fatima Kdouh, The Daily Telegraph
February 8, 2019 7:01pm
Mitchell Moses wants to erase Parramatta’s wooden spoon from his memory.
But there is one thing from last year that he wants to bottle up and keep at the ready for season 2019 if ever he finds himself needed any extra motivation.
“It’s one of those seasons that I just want to wipe out,” he said.
“But I’m a competitor and it really does hurt when we lose, and I don’t want to forget that hurt or forget how I felt after games.
“I’ll use that hurt to drive us to win games this year.”
After only six wins to finish last in 2018, the halfback was on the receiving end of dressing down by coach Brad Arthur. He was even told he was free to look for a new club for 2019.
“Brad was just really honest with me. It was granted. I didn’t have a good year at all. You can’t just have one good week and have three off, which is what I was doing,” he said.
“You can’t do that playing NRL footy and Brad was upfront with me about it. I’m a competitive person, so when I heard those things I wanted to come back and do it for myself and for the boys as well.
“Hearing those things, I really felt like I did let the team down.”
The uncomfortable conversation was a reality check for Moses and he insists he hasn’t taken any of it personally.
“I respect that he was so honest and how he went about it,” he said.
“But we’ve come back and kissed and cuddles and made up, we’re fine. We’ve got a good relationship at the moment. What we are trying to do here at Parramatta is build a new culture. He’s pretty much leading that.”
Arthur’s men have been reluctant to divulge the underlying nature of this “new culture” emerging in Sydney’s west. But one common theme does emerge when players open up about their preseason so far — unity.
The entire squad spent a week on the Central Coast “reconnecting” recently and have been coming together as group and talk about the things that matter to them as people.
“Come round one, it’s going to take a whole team effort to win games and we want to become a closer team. We feel like if we become a closer team and really work for each other we’ll get result,” Moses said.
It’s not the only change unfolding at Parramatta. While some might expect Arthur to come down hard on his players this preseason, Moses says his normally exacting coach has mellowed down.
“B.A. has been really good for us. He’s been a bit more relaxed in his approach he’s looked after the boys,” he said.
“But he has been hard on us when we needed it. He’s got that good happy medium there this year.
