With seemingly endless bad press dropping like nightly bombing raids at Concord, the sirens have sounded that Mitch Moses’ mid-year switch to Parramatta is all but certain to happen.
Moses’ move to the Eels will be a tough pill to swallow for many Tigers fans. Many will argue that he owes the Tigers some loyalty as the club has invested considerable resources into him and moved on other players to accommodate him.
However, the taxing nature of the Moses episode and the on-going contract indecision surrounding James Tedesco, Woods and to a lesser extent, Brooks, has taken its toll. In truth, most fans will be happy to see it over, whatever the outcome.
But casting the spotlight on Moses for the moment, is his decision to move across town such a bad move?
As a club the Tigers are a in a deep hole. In most pundits’ eyes, the joint-venture has easily usurped Parramatta as the league’s top kook-house where the inmates run both the boardroom and the footy team. These two entities of Wests Tigers lead parallel existences of landmine hopping, bullet dodging and petrol dousing.
For the last five years, the place has been a cracked mixing bowl of a rotten eggs and sloppy seconds. It’s no wonder that Mitchell and his talented yet jaded band of goons are wanting to slip out the back door to more stable establishments.
The Tigers are in the midsts of an unfortunate bind at present. Mitchell is one of four big name off contract players managed by Isaac Moses. Brooks is reported to have signed, but there are rumours he may backflip.
In the eyes of a lot of fans this Isaac Moses has turned out to be the devil reincarnated. The dude has skillfully manoeuvred himself right under the Tigers’ noses to unquestionably hold all the aces at the negotiation table.
Currently, the foxy operator has the Tigers’ club over a barrel. Having reportedly secured Mitchell Moses’s deal at Parramatta, Isaac is now moving his pawns and positioning his strings at the Bulldogs and the Roosters to try and land a Woods-Tedesco package deal.
To what extent Mitchell and his apparent not so merry men are being manipulated by Isaac is up for debate. But manipulated or not, they all have the ability to make up their own minds on decisions their player manager is making on behalf of them.
Tigers CEO, Justin Pascoe, described the current contract situation as a ‘perfect storm’ with Isaac Moses its chief wind-maker. If the contract issues are not dealt with quickly, the storm may well cripple the Tigers’ 2017 season and fog the goggles of good judgment for the four young men at the center of it.
Some poor judgment has unfortunately already surfaced. Very recently, Moses had publicly said that he wanted to play semi-finals footy.
No doubt this was just another lever pulled by Moses and his manager to either force the Tigers’ hand into paying considerable overs for his services, or it’s part of a plan to pad-out the impending announcement that he has signed elsewhere. Either way, the collateral damage and unintentional recipients from this statement are his Tigers’ teammates.
In other words, his comments are a verbal booting into his current team’s abilities, and it inadvertently blames his finals footy no-show on his fellow tigers; underlining them as being the ones who are sub-par.
True? Maybe.
But whether the comment was intended to sound like it did or not, the poor word choice from Mitch could be very damaging in a team environment.
Suspicions that original media puff piece about Mitch had been carefully scripted by his player manager most certainly looms large to those watching closely.
The many different versions of the events which have gone down between Tigers’ management and Moses regarding his Parramatta contract have somewhat muddied the waters. Dollars negotiated between the two parties and Moses’ price at Parramatta appear speculative at the moment.
However, what seems to be true is that the Tigers’ offer was more than Parra’s and it was Ivan who nuked the original offer tabled by the Tigers.
In any case, what’s becoming clear, is that all parties including the media are being regularly pantsed by player manager Isaac Moses. He is using every side in these negotiations to generate as much coin as humanly possible for his clients and, ultimately, himself.
For Tigers’ supporters, Mitch’s impending jumping of fences to perceived greener pastures is another unwelcomed distraction to an already bashed fan-base. For Mitch, the move could well be his making as a footballer, or it could end in further tears for the finals searching pivot.
Aem
Guest
lol. Cleary has a record of getting teams to the finals. Parramatta / Brad Arthur? Not so much. Now, I think BA is a quality coach and will get them there... but leaving Ivan Cleary to go to Parra is not going to be based on 'finals footy'.
Mr Brown
Roar Pro
Outstanding, Al. Agree with with everything you said.
Al
Guest
Yes the clubs been a rabble for the past several years... but in my opinion it's solely based on the club pandering to hopefuls for so long... investing too heavily on promise of juniors, and them not only not delivering but banding together to dictate to the club on who and what they want at the club. Taylor was employed for one reason, and he achieved that, to break hearts by getting rid of Farah, which he did ahead of schedule. Cleary is the coach going forward and the rest can either stay and get into line like every other player in a team in the comp, or go and find some harsh reality elsewhere.. as a fan, I'm not fussed either way. There is finally going to be "stability " here and some players already are running scared. I hope Moses kills it at parra, but the fact is, he was too comfortable here at a club and we needed this pain to right the wrongs and steer this bus in the right direction. Respect for brooks to want to stay and be accountable for his promise to become a better player. As much as I would like for woods and Tedesco to stay.... two players don't make a team, and for too long we have been anything but a TEAM, only a few blokes around a couple of over paid promising "stars".
Kobi
Guest
Every NRL club has been in the same boat over the years so tell me something i don't already know about players, player managers & wheeling & dealing it's pathetic what is alowed to go on re player movements not just thru the season but so early in a new season. There is no club loyalty the mighty $$$ is the only lord players & player managers whorship in todays enviroment. It's Bush footy, my local club & local loyal fans that keeps me interested in the game. NRL clubs scour the pacific islands for players & virtually ignore bush footy where the real talent comes from. Not a cent of the massive income that is generated by the NRL comes back to the bush clubs at least not mine anyway. My club gets not a brass razzoo from the NRL. The small crowds at most NRL games will tell you the game is in a shambles. People are sick & tired of the daily drama of such a simple game. End of rant.
John
Guest
All sounds good GD however you are missing one crucial point... Moses, Tedesco and Woods (local juniors and the future of the Tigers over the next decade) will be paid LESS to leave. Stop scratching your head and start asking why.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Jacko; the key difference is that players are signed under a salary cap and the coach isn't. No premiership side pays all their players what they could get on the open market; there's not enough space in the cap to do that -- they either have players they've developed from rookie level who are still on rookie money, or they have players who have come in at a slightly lower price than they could elsewhere get because they believe they can win a premiership at the club rather than at another one.
Jacko
Guest
Not to mention Taylor's contract & didnt the Tigers get a player mid season from the Panthers last season? Kiwi international I think
Jacko
Guest
Is Cleary working for far less than he could possibly grasp? Should they have selected keen young coach who has a burning desire to succeed? I dont see why you believe players should play for less than they can get yet you wanted the best coach available ( in your eyes, as I dont rate Cleary) and I bet he is on good coin.
John
Guest
Moses is the Tigers' reigning Player of the Year Rick. Kid had his offer pulled by the club days after it was tabled, following a speculative media report about the salary cap that has yet to be confirmed. He was then told he would only be a priority signing after the future of two teammates was sorted?!! Your post shows naievity mate. In reality the Tigers have shown their colours time and time again over the past five years, as well as their gross ineptitude. 2017 has been another chapter in serious mismanagement and the irony is those two priority signings are now reportedly going elsewhere...all three will be dominating at rival clubs for the next 8-10 years.
John
Guest
TigerMike, Farah was under contract to play for the Tigers this year. Cleary was under contract to coach the Warriors in 2012. Cleary was also under contract to coach to Panthers in 2016. Why is it OK for the goose and not the gander?
TigerMike
Guest
He signed to play for the Tigers this year. He should do what he said he would as per his contract And if he does it to his best, then he'll be playing finals footy
Travis McMahon
Roar Rookie
I think the finals aspiration quote was a poorly chosen throw away line. However, it says to the Eels players players that they have to be the ones that get him finals footy. Why not work harder, make the side around you better players and be successful off the back of that??
Rick
Guest
Moses has shown his true colours. The club that nurtured him and persisted with him even though he has failed to deliver is now being left behind. Parramatta better be hoping he can produce the goods that have been expected but never delivered. Cleary seems to be the breath of fresh air need at the Tigers. He has told the players to either come on board or leave. For years now it seems that the Board have been told by the players too jump and the Board has asked how high. A competent Board should be running the show. Hopefully Cleary will be the one to show them some spine.
Mr Brown
Roar Pro
Precisely. Forms part of a confusing set of circumstances.
steveng
Roar Rookie
So Mitch Mosses thinks that the Eels are going to give him 'finals footy'??? That is as bad as saying he wants a big contract with the Tigers because they will make the finals with him at 5/8.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Cause the Eels are a lock for finals footy?
no one in particular
Roar Guru
If finals football is his goal, then why the mid year move? The only thing separating the 2 clubs on the ladder is F&A. And the Eels haven't had the disruption of their coach being sacked and this contract saga And having known Issac Moses for 25 years let me tell you he isn't smart, just an out and out grub
GD66
Guest
Still scratching my head at the amount of influence members of a playing roster have been permitted. They supposedly didn't like the coach so hung out for months for a contract renewal, then when the out-of -favour coach was farcically flicked they still fanned out for any other offers. Moses' professed desire to be in a position to play finals footy is a scorching sledge on his fellow players (supposedly all good buddies) and in a way, himself. In a way I would like to see Ivan flick all of them, and bring in keen young talent with a burning desire to play and win for the unity and success of themselves and their team mates, not necessarily for as much money as they could possibly grasp.
Matt
Guest
Absolutely. Heard Moses state two weeks ago that he was sick of the team being at the bottom of the ladder. Well, they had a chance to make the finals last year. Final game of the season at Leichardt Oval on a perfect Sunday afternoon versus the Raiders. The performance by some Tigers players was beyond inept given they had a chance to make the top eight by winning that match. Some of the many tries they conceded were pathetic. With everything to play for, the performance of Brooks and Moses (no Tedesco - injured; and Woods apparently had flu during the week) screamed 'don't believe, don't believe, don't believe the hype!'. And that hype is now into its fourth year....
The eye
Guest
If I was a Tigers supporter,and I wish the club well,I'd be sweating bullets..potentially Moses could be anything,Teddy and Woodsy both look like leaving and the 2nd best player in the club,Nofoaluma is also looking around for next year..who do they sign to boost their weak backrow ? Chris McQueen..goodness gracious..