Moses always ‘destined’ to be a star: NSW great

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Moses always ‘destined’ to be a star: NSW great

Benny Elias always knew Mitchell Moses was destined for stardom.

The rugby league legend thought as much 20 years ago, when he’d see his nephew kicking the footy in the backyard at family get-togethers.

By the time he lured Moses over from Parramatta’s junior system to Wests Tigers as a teenager, then-Tigers board member Elias was convinced.

So when there are questions as to how the Eels captain will perform next to Nathan Cleary in the NSW halves for the State of Origin series opener, Elias is unfazed.

“My God, I don’t know how you defend Moses on one side and Cleary on the other,” said Origin legend Elias, inducted into NSW Rugby League’s hall of fame last week.

“He respects Nathan, which is very important. I know he does. He’s got a lot of time for Nath. I hope Nath would think the same back of him.”

Between them, Cleary and Moses have been NSW’s halfback for all but two of 21 Origin games played since 2018.

But the pair have never lined up in any fixture together, owing largely to their similarities; both are right-footed, goal-kicking, traditional game-managers who predominantly play on the right side of the field.

Four-time premiership winner Cleary is a walk-up starter when fit and will wear the No.7 jersey for NSW coach Laurie Daley in game one.

But Daley’s decision to overlook Cleary’s former Penrith co-pilot Jarome Luai has meant Moses will be thrust onto the left and a slightly different role for the May 28 series opener in Brisbane.

Elias doubts that’ll bother his nephew, whom he feels is only now approaching the peak of his powers.

“The likes of Joey Johns, Brad Fittler and JTs (Jonathan Thurston) of the world, they became very, very well-recognised from 28 years and on. Mitch has just turned 30,” Elias said.

“When he believes in himself, he’s got another level to go. He’s got plenty left in him, he’s got plenty of strike power and the unpredictable.

“Mitch sleeps, drinks, feeds rugby league. He just loves it. Ever since he was a little kid, he’s always carried that rugby league ball around.

“At all the family functions, he was playing out in the backyard, he was always going to be destined to be a superstar.”

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