Mitchell Moses has become the most in-demand player in the NRL, with multiple clubs lining up to attempt to lure the halfback away from Parramatta.
After leading his side to a grand final appearance in 2022, Moses is off-contract at the end of next year and is free to sign with another NRL club for 2024.
The 28-year-old has cemented himself as one of the game’s elite playmakers and has attracted plenty of interest from the Tigers and Bulldogs.
But his current club the Eels won’t be letting him go without a fight, offering him a multi-year extension to remain in blue and gold.
The Sporting News have ranked Moses’ likely landing spots for 2024 and beyond below.
MORE: Every club’s top 30 roster for 2023 | Full NRL off-contract list
1. Wests Tigers
The front-runner to sign Mitchell Moses at this stage is the club that let him go five years ago – the 2022 wooden-spoon winners, Wests Tigers.
A local junior with close ties to the club, Moses moved across to the Eels in 2017 and it has been a major misfire on the Tigers’ behalf, with the halfback leading the Eels to multiple finals series while Luke Brooks continued to struggle.
But the new-look coaching staff of Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall are keen to lure Moses back to Concord in 2024, with a big contract being prepared.
The Sporting News understands that Moses will meet with Tigers officials on Friday and the club are set to offer him a four-year deal worth approximately $1.4 million per season.
Moses would likely link up with former halves partner Brooks, who the club have put their faith behind after letting Jackson Hastings move to Newcastle.
The 28-year-old would be coming to a club on the up, with quality signings such as Isaiah Papali’i and Api Koroisau boosting their roster and a brand-new centre of excellence a huge bonus.
2. Canterbury Bulldogs
The other club in the hunt for Moses’ signature at this stage appears to be the Bulldogs, with head of football Phil Gould and new coach Cameron Ciraldo looking to sign an elite No.7 moving forward.
Kyle Flanagan hasn’t lived up to expectations since arriving at Belmore and with only one year left on his deal, he is unlikely to be offered a new contract as Canterbury look to become a finals force once again.
Gould told The Daily Telegraph that the club are yet to hold talks with Moses, however it is believed they would be interested if he does test the open market.
Given the improving roster at the Dogs with the likes of Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney, it would be an extremely enticing option for Moses and one that many believe will come to fruition.
3. Parramatta Eels
While the Tigers and Bulldogs are in the running to pry Moses away from Parramatta, his current club won’t be giving up without a fight.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Moses has already been tabled an offer worth over $1 million per year to remain at the Eels, but is yet to put pen to paper and is looking to test the waters elsewhere.
Parramatta do have somewhat of a dilemma on their hands, with both their halves – Moses and five-eighth Dylan Brown – without a deal for 2024 and beyond, which will likely see one of them move on at the end of next year.
After losing star players in Mahoney and Papali’i, the side does look like they could slide down the ladder and the potential loss of Moses or Brown would only add to that.
Eels decision-makers need to make a choice soon.
4. Dolphins
It’s been no secret that Wayne Bennett has struggled to attract a marquee player to the Dolphins – but could that change with Moses?
While no formal contract has been presented to either off-contract Eels star, Bennett would undoubtedly be monitoring the situation with both Moses and Brown very closely.
After missing out on Cameron Munster and Kalyn Ponga, the Redcliffe-based expansion club need a game-winner in their side and would be silly not to put forward an offer for one of them.
5. South Sydney Rabbitohs
Certainly a left-field choice and one that hasn’t been spoken about – but there’s a chance that Souths could put in an offer for Moses depending on what happens with their own halves.
As it stands, Cody Walker is still off-contract at the end of 2023 and is yet to sign a new deal to remain at Redfern, while Lachlan Ilias has signed an extension but it likely won’t be on the same kind of money as his current partner.
Could we see Moses join the Bunnies in 2024 and Walker head to the Dolphins to link up with his former coach in Wayne Bennett? Stranger things have happened.
