How a Wallabies great and a new halves partner can take Moses to a new level

2 weeks ago 2

Eels skipper Mitchell Moses believes the arrival of a new halves partner and tuition from a Wallabies legend will help Parramatta break back into finals football.

Melbourne playmaker Jonah Pezet is at the club, for just one season before joining premiers Brisbane next year. He is being hailed as a potential game-changing acquisition as the Eels look to reach the play-offs for the first time since 2022. However, Pezet isn’t the only new face at Eels training.

Parramatta has engaged former Wallabies fullback Matt Burke, who was last year inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame, as a goal-kicking consultant. Burke has completed half a dozen sessions, the most recent on Wednesday, with goal-kicking options including Moses, Pezet and Sean Russell.

The off season has also been an opportunity for Moses to familiarise himself with Pezet. They have yet to play a game together, but Moses already feels Pezet will help take the pressure off him.

“How we’re working, it’s not just one half taking control,” Moses said.

“We’re working together and we’re playing both sides of the ruck. I feel like we’re going to be threats across the whole park. It’s been a good fit for us, he’s bounced straight in.

Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses has received goal-kicking advice from Matt Burke.

“His football career is young, he’s young in that aspect, but he’s very mature in the mind with his football.

“He’s a smart footballer and he’s played in some big games already, like the semi-finals last year and was probably one of their best players on the field.

“He brings that big-game experience.”

Pezet has made 18 NRL appearances after being stuck behind Storm stars Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster, but will get the first chance to wear the No.6 jersey vacated by Dylan Brown.

“He’s very confident, he’s very loud, but it’s good,” Moses said.

“It’s something that we needed and even if it’s just for the year, it puts us in a really good position to win games now.

“He’s fit right in with the boys. He loves footy, I love footy, and we both enjoy learning new things, putting most of our time and our life into footy.”

The much publicised departure of Zac Lomax will result in Moses taking on the goal-kicking duties on a full-time basis. Burke, part of Australia’s 1999 Rugby World Cup-winning team, has been providing goal-kicking tuition as a consultant.

“Mitch hits them really well,” Burke said.

“He’s got skill, he’s got rhythm, he’s got tempo. He’s a golfer, so if there’s an analogy I use with golfing swings, he gets that.

“The golf swing is a really good example – you take the club away, be efficient and you have to be square when you hit the ball. It’s the same thing with the footy on contact.

“It’s small things that get you in that right spot. We’ve just done a couple of tweaks … he’s been working hard by himself to make sure those tweaks come into effect.”

Moses said the Eels’ inability to convert tries wasn’t good enough last year and he was already benefiting from Burke’s tips.

“We didn’t goal kick well at all last year,” Moses said.

“There were some big games where our goal kicking cost us, we’re gonna have to be better in that aspect.

“We’ve had Burkey come in and do some goal-kicking with us, it’s been good.”