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Not even $1 million-a-season can convince Mitchell Moses to re-sign with the Eels — and his reluctance to commit to the club has raised concern over what’s happening behind closed doors.
Both Moses and his halves partner Dylan Brown come off contract at the end of 2023, meaning they are now free to negotiate with rivals for 2024 and beyond.
The Eels are desperate to keep the two playmakers that led the club to its first grand final since 2009 but there are several cashed up rivals circling.
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Moses has been offered an extension worth $1 million per season but is yet to accept it as he weighs up interest — and more money — from the Bulldogs and Wests Tigers.
That is according to veteran News Corp journalist Phil Rothfield who is “not confident” the Eels will be able to keep their star halves together despite the club’s “fair” offer to Moses.
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Rothfield has also raised concern over Moses’ loyalty to the Eels since the 28-year-old hasn’t committed to the club yet.
“I think Parra can keep both these boys but I’m not confident that they will,” he told Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.
“When is a million dollars not enough for a player who hasn’t won a grand final with his club?
“(Moses is a) very, very good playmaker in the prime of his career at 28-years of age and he’s been offered over a million dollars to stay there. But the Wests Tigers and Canterbury have gone in with another couple of hundred thousand dollars a year.
“I’d love to see him stay there. I can remember the great Parramatta sides, remember Peter Sterling back in the 80s? He knocked back a squillion to go to Manly — you know why? Because he loved Parramatta. He wanted to win titles with Parramatta.
“They all wanted to stay in those great sides and it’s disappointing to me they look like losing Mitchell Moses when I think what they’re offering him is really fair coin, I really do.”
Rothfield also referenced Cameron Munster — a much more recent example of a player knocking back big money to stay loyal.
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Munster was pursued by the Dolphins and Wests Tigers with both reportedly willing to pay $1.3 million a year for the Queensland Origin five-eighth.
But Munster chose to re-sign with the Storm on a four-year deal said to be worth $1 million a year.
“We’ve seen some great examples recently, no more so than Cameron Munster — he could have made $300,000 a year more at the Wests Tigers or Dolphins,” Rothfield said.
“But he stayed in Melbourne not only because he was guaranteed probably more success there, but because of the jersey, because of the logo and because of the mateship.
“I wonder to what degree that exists at Parramatta and why every time they have big-name players come off contract it’s played out so publicly.
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“You go back to Andrew Johns in Newcastle — the Wallabies offered him everything they had. I remember Wayne Bennett at the Broncos offered him enormous money but he stayed there because of the town and the team, that camaraderie that existed there in Newcastle and that fanbase they’ve got.
“Where’s that at Parramatta? He’s been offered a million bucks and he won’t sign.
“He hasn’t won a comp. He’s a new father and has got to do his best but I don’t know.
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“It’s really interesting because six or seven years Mitchell Moses has been at Parramatta (for) and they’re in a window I think despite losing (Isaiah) Papali’i and (Reed) Mahoney.
“You’re basically throwing out six or seven hard years for those faithful supporters.”
However, Rothfield then turned the blowtorch on the Eels and questioned the club’s roster management given their two halves are coming off contract at the same time.
“I’m also going to be critical of the Parramatta Eels here because I don’t know how you manage a salary cap and have your two gun playmakers coming off at the same time,” he said.
“These sort of signings need to be staggered so when you get to a point where they’re off you’re not trying to keep two of them.
“Dylan Brown had a fantastic season and a great World Cup for New Zealand and the Dolphins are throwing everything at him.
“There’s another couple of clubs too but I’m not 100 per cent sure who they are so I won’t start suggesting things, but I just don’t know how well the Eels have managed the situation.”
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