Stay for life: Eels table $5 million deal to keep Moses

The Parramatta Eels have tabled Mitchell Moses a rich $5 million deal that would keep him in the heart of the blue-and-gold offense until at least the end of the 2027 NRL season and secure his services throughout the prime of his career.

The Sporting Base understands the deal will see Moses paid $1 million a year to 2027.

Moses, 27, has two years left on his current Eels contract—including the rest of the ongoing 2022 campaign—and a further year that carries an option in his favour. If the Wests Tigers junior put pen to paper on this rich new offer he would add three more non-negotiable seasons on top of his Parramatta package and around $80,000 a year.

The biggest factor in Parramatta’s decision to put $5 million on the table for their halfback is the star power they’ve already shed recently: Isaiah Papali’i, Marata Niukore, Ray Stone, Oregon Kaufusi, and spine rake Reed Mahoney are all leaving.

Brad Arthur and the Eels bosses believe keeping Moses should dull the pain.

Reports close to the club suggest Moses is leaning towards taking up the deal—there are several other clubs interested, but the Eels playmaker prefers western Sydney specifically for his family.

The biggest threat looming for Parramatta’s plans is Moses’ old club, the Tigers.

Wests—who announced an extraordinary coaching succession plan involving Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall earlier today—have a similar plan to Parramatta in their squad building. They want to plug a dominant halfback into their new-look roster over the next half-decade to provide structure as the Sheens/Marshall combo rebuilds the team.

Moses left the Wests Tigers ahead of the 2018 NRL season.

The Sporting Base understands the 27-year-old has little interest to return to the club where he first cut his teeth . The one thing that may turn his head is a major pay rise but considering he’s already on $920,000 and is looking at six figures, it’s very unlikely.

Either way, Luke Brooks is likely to move to the Knights if he leaves the Tigers early. The Concord club is also at risk of losing star half Jackson Hastings, who has his eyes on a shock Bulldogs move.

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