This post will be brief but I believe it has become necessary.
Both prior to, and after, the Eels official statement regarding the injury to Mitch Moses, I have been bombarded by messages across multiple platforms regarding Moses. Furthermore, the reactions from fans on line, including some on TCT, echo the sentiments of those messages.
Despite the Eels media release, there has been a groundswell of criticism about the Eels handling of Moses injury, his contract in light of the injury, or even claims about being misled regarding Moses availability for Round One in the time leading up to Team List Tuesday. There are even fans agitated by Moses playing rep footy then being unavailable for the start of the preseason.
I do not represent the club. Nor do I discuss injuries that might occur on the training track. Even if I witness something that transpires, it’s highly inappropriate for me to comment.
I feel conflicted about commenting on Moses, but feel I would be doing a disservice to our readers to not share something. I’ll aim for a balance between informing and not crossing any lines.
Here’s what I can share.
Never at any stage did I consider that the Eels or Mitch Moses had been anything but factual about the injury.
As for context of what you’ll read below, I have barely missed a field session during the pre-season.
Moving into the New Year, Moses had been engaged in full training sessions. When extras were on, he’d be practising his kicking alongside Zac Lomax – see this photo which I took in January.
Lomax and Moses during extras.
There came a point in a particular session when Moses stopped, walked to the sideline, was checked out, and ceased training. No limping. Nothing dramatic. And as a layman observer, it didn’t appear significant.
The Eels reported that he had foot soreness, and that scans had failed to show anything. I’d heard the same info informally.
Moses then had a period of not participating in field sessions. I suspect he was undertaking “off feet conditioning”. However, I can only speculate. His rehab eventually moved back into running, which is what he was doing during the weeks of the Eels trials.
After the trials, he moved back into field training, even engaging in scrimmage work.
Watching this process, and seeing Moses participate in the work, I fully expected him to be named for round one.
Apparently, there was an issue at the very end of last week.
It was that simple.
Nothing extraordinary or sinister happened and there are always players having some level of load adjustments during the preseason. This seemed similar.
I have no insights as to anything regarding the injury itself or the time frame.
Once again, I don’t speak on behalf of the club, nor have I sought information from them for this post. It is simply my observations of what has transpired.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Imagine seeing all the good this club has done in one off season with providing fans more insight into almost everything they do and then go on to act like they are somehow deceiving us by not providing an up to the minute update on the medical outcome of players injuries.
These same people whose medical expertise involves putting on a bandaid claiming the club and its medical professionals mismanaged his injury.
We just had two years of our fullback being held together by string and trotting out week after week because he had to. Now we are putting some care into our players and people are losing their minds.
Mitch Moses for six weeks was not the difference between winning and losing a comp this year.
Honestly.
100% luk, Well said. I guess fans, myself included were so pumped to see our new look team, the Moses news was like a pin in a balloon. It’s human nature to cast blame at obvious targets. The reality is nobody is to blame, it’s just shit luck.
Sixties covered every training session in detail, there’s literally a log of Moses training well during the offseason.
The news came as shock so the reaction from fans was always going to be irrational.
There’s still plenty to look forward to, I’m excited to see Lomax, Williams and Longi debut for the club, I’m especially looking forward to seeing Ryley Smith make his debut.
I’m hoping like most that our new look mobile, lighter forward pack show resilience in defence for 80 minutes. Lomax will definitely tighten our edge defence.
I’m also looking forward to the new look Junior, will he have the same impact with his lighter frame? will he become a light footed stepping, ball playing freak in the middle?
In the past we would lose a halfback and a goal kicker, at least we have Lomax kicking goals, that’s a bonus.
I’m glad I was able to take that photo of Moses doing kicking extras with Lomax. Given he was kicking he wasn’t in any discomfort.
I saw Moses interviewed where he claimed to beat Lomax in the kicking duel but conceded the duties anyway. I got the impression the foot was the motivation there.
Thx sixties i hope that shuts up some supporters who have said some outrageous comments about moses.
Cheers Macca. Footy is emotion. Shows how vital fans see that Moses is to the team.
Injury occurs in training. To look for conspiracy where none exists is plain disappointing. I’ve read all the training reports and know that Mitchell was participating fully. If some of the fan base is disappointed, imagine how Mitchell feels. About to run out as captain to start a new era in our club and have this happen. It’s not hard to see that he’s a competitive bugger who enjoys his successes.
I wanted to see him lead this new team around but it’s not to be. Fortunately we now have decent backups. After his disappointment of the past year, Volkmann will be primed.
Well said Darryl.
Darryl, you can bet your life Mitch would have fought the medical team with every fibre of his being to play this week.
The club has made the right decision, you can bet your life Mitch would be needled up and would play if it was a finals game. But it’s round 1, you don’t risk your greatest asset if the risk exceeds the reward.
He’s a competitor, no doubt
People love a conspiracy, Netflix and social media are full of it. Moses would have been flattened by it but he’s not going to carry on, he’s the club captain and will focus on the 17 players beating the Storm. I keep thinking about those 17 blokes and there’s something about each of them, a story, about their pre-season, their fitness and improved defence(I hope!), coming back from injury, new players, and Junior…go berko mate.
Let’s go BDon!
BDon, one particular conspiracy theory nutcase on another platform is still claiming some utterly ridiculous stuff. When he says that Moses should have put the club 1st and not the dollars by playing for Australian and also that he’ll be ready for Origin no matter the injury – well, you know just how dumb they are. Every single kid dreams of playing for their State and Country and anyone begrudging a player for doing so needs their head read.
Whilst not ideal, this is the perfect opportunity for the 17 on the park tomorrow to put in and show some backs against the wall mentality. One thing is for certain, the Storm have made that scenario an art form over the last 20 years, so time for the Eels to do the same. I’m expecting an Eels loss, but it will be the manner of the loss that will be more important to their chances over the rest of the year. Show resilience and it’s a positive to be able to move forward with, but fold and get flogged and it could be a long season.
While its not the best news for Eels fans, it’s not end of the season, actually opposite. The chance for the boys to show they can perform without Moses. This is a line in the sand moment for the playing group.
Yes we all would love to be a contender, we need to be realistic and with that comes less expectations and excitement.
Never once after reading all the pre-season posts did I feel like I was being withheld information. The preseason posts were great.
Cheers Brad. I steer away from reporting injuries but these facts had to be shared.
I am curious as to your rationale about why it is important not to report on injuries. This is not a criticism. It would just be good to understand why this is your perspective
It’s simple. I’m not a representative of the club nor do I have knowledge of the accurate medical assessment until the club announces it. Can you imagine the response if I reported any player walking off injured from training?
Well said sixties, it’ll be a tough first month but it’ll be great experience for our young debutants and the team should hopefully be looking full, healthy and strong from around round 5-6 for a big mid season. Wether at the eels or another club, Volkman is going to be a starting NRL half in the future and he’ll do a great job for us I’m sure.
He is a talent Seb, and now he’s back at his junior club – the Eels!
I think for most fans it’s come from frustration mitch has missed alot of footy the last 2ears and history shows without him we struggle so to begin the year without him aswell as a few others it just sets the expectations back down to the sad reality of what we should prepare for and it’s hard to get excited about a season where finals looked a long shot and the longer mitch is out the further away they appear.
It’s a reflection on how bad we have been that mitch had his best ever season professionally last year and none of it had anything to do with club footy
Nine out now for this game. Mitch is just one. It’s the total number of absences which make this game tough.
Guys, this injury break will not be for 6 weeks for Moses. Add 8-10 weeks to 6 and that’s what it’ll be. Just my opinion…..
I’d reckon Mitch will look to be back sooner not later
Sixties, I’ve just read in Buzz’s DT column that players get $3K for playing for the kangaroos – the lowest paid elite sports people in Australia, lower than the women’s cricket, soccer and union players. Just goes to show the dickheads carrying on about Moses taking the dollars instead of putting club 1st are total nufties. I’d love to respond to Frank The Tank on 1EE but there’s no point engaging with narrow minded conspiracy theory nutters – he’d no doubt claim that figure comes from main stream media and I’m an idiot for believing it!! You just can’t help shake your head at some people.
I have no idea about his comments Stubbyholder. All I can say is that what I reported above is what actually happened as I watched it all unfold.