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Mitchell Moses' $6m statement in sparkling display against Wests Tigers

The Parramatta Eels halfback continues to justify every cent of his new contract extension.

Mitchell Moses, pictured here with one of his four try assists as Parramatta beat the Wests Tigers.
Mitchell Moses had four try assists as Parramatta beat the Wests Tigers. Image: Fox Sports/Getty

Mitchell Moses put on an absolute clinic on Monday as the Parramatta Eels consigned the Wests Tigers to their worst start to a season in their 24-year history. The Parramatta halfback finished with four try assists, 106 running metres, one line-break, one line-break assist and a staggering 526 kick metres to justify his new contract extension.

While nothing has been made official just yet, it is believed that Moses is staying at the Eels on a new five-year deal - reportedly worth about $6 million. And the 28-year-old continues to justify the hefty price tag, masterminding the Eels' win over the Tigers on Monday afternoon.

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Moses set up the first three Parramatta tries with deft kicks through the Tigers defensive line, which resulted in four-pointers to Clint Gutherson, Will Penisini and Bryce Cartwright. He then laid on a try for Maika Sivo with a brilliant cut-out pass early in the second half that sent the Eels to a dominant lead that they managed to hold onto.

Then with the game still in the balance in the final few minutes, Moses nailed a clutch conversion from the sideline to send the Eels to a 28-20 lead, which buried the Tigers' improbable comeback. The loss for the Tigers sent them to 0-6 for the first time in the joint-venture club's 24-year history.

It also came as a crushing blow for the Tigers considering Moses spurned their attempts to lure him back to the club where he made his debut. Moses came into first grade with the Tigers, before leaving the club to join Parramatta.

Mitchell Moses, pictured here sending a message to fans as the Eels beat the Wests Tigers.
Mitchell Moses sent a message to fans as the Eels beat the Wests Tigers. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The Tigers reportedly offered him around $1.5 million to return, but Moses is staying put at Parramatta. In three games since his contract extension was reportedly finalised, Moses has kicked the Eels past the Panthers with a field goal in golden point, before delivering his attacking masterclass against the Tigers.

"[Moses] was crucial, general kicking, the three tries from kicks, and his goal-kicking...when it's your day it's your day isn't it?" Tigers coach Tim Sheens said about Moses. "Three tries from kicks, after last week and the kicking efforts of Brisbane, that disappoints us because we put a lot of time into it."

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Eels coach Brad Arthur said: "He [Moses] kicked them to death and started the second half with another try assist, he was very good today. I haven't looked at the numbers yet, but I know how much defence we had to do, they had a fair bit of ball on our try line.

"It's a hard one to get a read on and the boys were pretty flat in the sheds after the game. Positives out of it are we got the two points, we got no injuries and we didn't get anyone suspended."

Arthur said the Eels would not be satisfied with the win, given their second-half fade-out. "I thought we've played better this year and gotten beaten but at the end of the day, at the end of the year, that doesn't matter, the two points does," he said. "We've got to dust ourselves off and we've got to be prepared to play a bit better footy than that."

Parramatta finished with only 43 per cent of possession and 10 tackles in the 20-metre zone. In comparison, the Tigers had 29 but still finished on the wrong side of the scoreboard.

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