Mitchell Moses

Mitchell Moses
Personal information
Nickname Mitch[1]
Born (1994-09-16) 16 September 1994
Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
Height 182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 80 kg (12 st 8 lb)
Playing information
Position Five-eighth, Halfback, Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2014– Wests Tigers 57 10 50 3 143
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2016 Prime Minister's XIII 1 3 4 0 20
As of 29 August 2016
Source: [2]

Mitchell Moses (Arabic: ميتشل موسى; born 16 September 1994) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League. Moses primarily plays at five-eighth but can fill in at fullback and halfback.

Background

Born in Ryde, New South Wales, Moses is of Lebanese descent. He is the nephew of former Balmain Tigers player Benny Elias.[3] Moses played his junior football for the Holy Cross Rhinos and Carlingford Cougars[4] before being signed by the Parramatta Eels. Moses played for the Eels' Harold Matthews Cup team before being signed by the Wests Tigers. Moses later said, "I went to Parramatta and played Harold Matts there. I wanted to stay there but it's their decision and I respect it."[4]

In 2012, Moses played for the Tigers S. G. Ball Cup team, playing in their grand final win over the Canberra Raiders alongside teammate Luke Brooks, and was named the S. G. Ball Cup Player of the Year.[5] In 2012, Moses played for the Australian Schoolboys.[6] In November 2012, Moses was named in the New South Wales Blues Origin Pathways Camp.[7] Moses played for the Wests Tigers NYC team in 2013 and 2014. In August 2013, Moses re-signed with the Tigers on a 4-year contract.[8] He said, "It wasn’t the case that I only stayed because Luke did, but I definitely think I play my best football alongside him."[9]

Playing career

2014

In February, Moses was selected in the Wests Tigers inaugural Auckland Nines squad.[10] In May, he played for the New South Wales in the Under 20s State of Origin match at Penrith Stadium. A late selection at halfback after Luke Brooks withdrew, Moses contributed to four tries in the victory, and was said to have, "directed the team superbly," as they won 30-8.[11] A few days later, he was suspended for 2 matches for calling Luke Bateman a "fucking gay cunt" during the match. Moses had been slated to make his NRL the next weekend, but was unable due to his suspension.[12][13]

In Round 17, Moses made his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers against the Penrith Panthers at Leichhardt Oval at fullback in the Tigers 26-10 loss.[14][15] In the Tigers last match of the season against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Moses scored his first NRL try in the Tigers 26-10 win at Leichhardt Oval.[16] Moses finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 10 matches, scoring 1 try and kicking 2 goals. He made his first appearances at fullback but later moved into the halves. It was noted that his first year was "a tough start to life in first-grade for the local junior, particularly as the club imploded on and off the field."[17]

2015

Moses joined Luke Brooks in the halves for 2015. Moses struggled early in the season under the more structured play of new coach Jason Taylor. He said, "I definitely was feeling a little bit frustrated at the start of the year and a bit low on confidence. I'm a freestyle player. That's how I play footy and coming into the structure that JT has bought – now, I don't mind it. It's a good learning curve for me to play to a structure while also being given that freedom of play whenever I see something to take it up."[18] Moses scored his first double in round 15, scoring Wests Tigers' first and last try against Manly.[19] Playing in every game for the year, he was one of three Wests Tigers with 12 or more line-break assists.[20]

2016

With the absence of Robbie Farah and Luke Brooks, Moses was the Tigers' key playmaker for the season opener. He was said to have given a "first-half masterclass" as he set up 3 "spectacular" tries. Coach Taylor said, "He was such a rookie this time last year. He ran the team for us today, which is a really big step for him."[21] Moses also took over the team's goal-kicking duties, kicking five conversions. He would share goal-kicking with Jordan Rankin as the season progressed.

After Farah was dropped to reserve grade towards the end of the year, it was said, "A large reason for the Tigers' success over the past six weeks has been the form of five-eighth Mitchell Moses, who has been the club's best player over that period."[22] Phil Gould named him as his five-eighth of the year, saying, "His back half of the season has been as good as any player in the game and he only appears to be getting better."[23] At the end of the regular season, Moses made his representative debut with the Prime Minister's XIII against Papua New Guinea. Scoring 3 tries and kicking 4 goals, he was the game's highest scorer.[24] At the conclusion of the 2016 season Moses was awarded Tigers player of the year after a standout season.

References

  1. ↑ "Horo cops three-week ban". NRL.com. 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  2. ↑ Mitchell Moses rugbyleagueproject.org
  3. ↑ Adrian Proszenko (2011-07-17). "Familiar names on display as schoolboys highlight the talent from league dynasties". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  4. 1 2 Adrian Proszenko (2014-07-05). "Wests Tigers' Mitchell Moses to make debut alongside great mate Luke Brooks". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  5. ↑ "Benny Elias nephew Mitchell Moses set to box clever on NRL debut". Daily Telegraph.
  6. ↑ Walshaw, Nick (2012-07-14). "Benny Elias' nephew Mitchell Moses stars for the Australian Schoolboys". News.com.au. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  7. ↑ Adrian Proszenko (2012-11-18). "Sironen follows in father's footsteps after call-up to baby Blues squad". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  8. ↑ Adrian Proszenko (2013-08-03). "Meet Tigers' generation next". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  9. ↑ Massoud, Josh (3 May 2014). "We reveal the next generation of stars set to battle it out in the Under 20s State of Origin clash". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Squads for Auckland Nines". Rugby League Week.
  11. ↑ Walter, Brad (3 May 2014). "Mitchell Moses stars as NSW win under 20s Origin clash". Border Mail. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  12. ↑ Dean Ritchie. "Young Tigers star Mitchell Moses's homophobic slur has robbed him of his NRL debut". Fox Sports.
  13. ↑ "Baby Blues make it three from three to retain Lockyer Shield". nswrl.com.au.
  14. ↑ NRL. "Late Changes: NRL Round 17 - Tigers". Weststigers.com.au. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  15. ↑ James MacSmith. "Tigers' Moses impresses in NRL debut". Sydney Morning Herald.
  16. ↑ "Tigers end season with scrappy win over Sharks". Rugby League Week.
  17. ↑ "NRL power rankings: we rank the competition's starting five-eighths". Daily Telegraph. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  18. ↑ Jack Brady (19 June 2015). "Freestyler Moses sticks to structure". nrl.com. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  19. ↑ "Halves star in Sea Eagles win". nrl.com. 20 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  20. ↑ "Line Break Assists". nrl.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  21. ↑ David Riccio (5 March 2016). "Mitchell Moses shines as coach Jason Taylor lets Wests Tigers off leash". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  22. ↑ Michael Chammas. "Aaron Woods on drip as virus flattens Wests Tigers before Canberra Raiders clash". Sydney Morning Herald.
  23. ↑ Phil Gould. "Phil Gould's NRL Team of the Year: Season 2016". Canberra Times.
  24. ↑ "Match Highlights: Prime Minister's XIII vs. PNG". weststigers.com.au.
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