Mitchell Moses knows Jarome Luai is heading to Parramatta, but he isn’t getting carried away. The Eels captain repeatedly shut down questions about his future halves partner, making it clear his focus remains firmly on the 2026 season.
Luai’s arrival from the Wests Tigers in 2027 has generated huge excitement among Eels fans, but Moses wasn’t interested in looking that far ahead when fronting the media before Parramatta’s clash with Penrith. News.com.au reported the Eels skipper batted away question after question about the high-profile signing.
Moses Won’t Look Beyond 2026
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Despite being asked multiple times about Luai’s impending arrival, Moses refused to be drawn into discussing how the pair might combine.
“It’s exciting for next year, but that’s next year,” Moses said.
“I’ll say the same thing every time.”
“He’s not here yet.”
The NSW Origin teammates have already shown they can succeed together at representative level, but Moses insisted now wasn’t the time to discuss what the partnership might look like in blue and gold.
Full Focus on Penrith
Instead, Moses turned his attention to Parramatta’s immediate challenge against the Panthers.
Returning after helping New South Wales win the State of Origin series, the Eels captain said his side would need to produce an 80-minute performance against one of the NRL’s benchmark clubs.
Moses also praised Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary following his outstanding Origin campaign.
“He’s probably the best player in the game.”
The Eels captain said Cleary deserved enormous credit for the way he handled criticism before producing a match-winning display in the State of Origin decider.
Luai Reunion Can Wait
While supporters are already looking forward to seeing Moses and Luai wear the same jersey, Parramatta’s captain isn’t interested in discussing combinations, leadership or how the team might look in 2027.
For now, the message is simple.
Luai is an exciting signing for the future, but Moses believes there is too much left to play for this season to start looking ahead.
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