How Moses and Cleary could have Maroons at sixes and sevens
Knowing he has little chance of displacing Nathan Cleary, Mitchell Moses is keen to play alongside the Penrith playmaker if it means earning another chance to don a NSW jersey.
Moses is widely considered the second-best halfback in the state, as evidenced by him filling in for the injured Cleary in the second and third games of last year’s State of Origin series. Cleary is expected to be one of the first players picked if fit, but there is no standout contender for the No.6 jersey. While Cody Walker, Jarome Luai and Nicho Hynes will press their claims, Moses feels he could complement Cleary should NSW coach Michael Maguire consider a left-field halves option.
“I’ve played six before,” Moses said. “I’d love to. I mean any time you can play with a player like [Cleary], it would be unbelievable.
“I love watching him play, he’s a great player. The year he had last year was unbelievable. What he did in that grand final was unbelievable. To play alongside him would be unbelievable as well.
“Whoever Madge [Maguire] picks, he picks and that’s how it is.”
Moses has represented the Blues on three occasions, including the last-start win against the Maroons in Sydney. The 29-year-old said he wanted another opportunity at interstate level.
“Yeah, obviously any time you get a taste there you always want to keep your spot,” he said.
“There’s some quality players – I think the seven for Penrith is coming off a pretty good year last year. Mate, he’s a quality player. I think anyone who wears that seven jersey, I’ll be in full support of them.
“I think what Madge is trying to do is outstanding. He’s come in and I think whoever puts on the jersey, I’ll be supporting anyway. So if I’m there, I’m there. If I’m not, I’m not.”
Of more immediate concern for Moses is the plight of the Eels. Parramatta missed the finals last year after making the decider the previous season, a fall that doesn’t sit comfortably with the former Tiger.
“I wanna play finals footy, I wanna win the comp,” Moses said at an Eels school camp held for 400 children at Kellyville in association with Motiv8.
“It’s as simple as it is. I don’t think [the goal] changes from year to year. I’ve been pretty open with that and if you ask any person on the team, they would probably say the same.
“You wanna be there at the end playing finals footy and being a shot at winning the comp.
“I thought we had the squad to do it last year, we just had a few injuries, just a few reasons which we’re gonna have to fix up.”
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has spoken publicly about wanting Moses to work on his leadership style. Teammate Will Penisini said he had noticed a change in the halfback’s demeanour during the pre-season.
“Mitch is always growing his game – he’s a learner,” Penisini said.
“He knows a lot about footy. We’ve got a couple of younger kids and the way he has stepped up as a leader, teaching them a couple of things [has been beneficial]. Obviously he has been in the game for a long while, and we’ve got a couple of young players, especially some young halves coming through the ranks, he’s taken them under his wing and is teaching them stuff.
“That’s how he has grown as a leader and person.”
Rather than a choice between Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses, a case has been made for NSW coach Michael Maguire to pick both halves for State of Origin.
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