Mitch manages expectations as D-day looms on contract call

In the world according to Mitch Moses, footballers devise delicate game plans and managers handle delicate contract negotiations.

It's that simple for the Parramatta playmaker, who is fielding a barrage of questions surrounding his future as he comes off contract at the end of 2023.

After six seasons and 131 games as an Eel, the 28-year-old faces a life-changing decision as he weighs up what could well be his final contract - and he is adamant a call will be made before the season proper kicks off on March 3 with a home game against the Storm.

The hordes of Parramatta fans who pack in to CommBank Stadium will either be celebrating their main man re-signing on a lucrative new deal, or resigning themselves to the fact 2023 will be Moses' final season in blue and gold.

"Hopefully it'll be sorted before the season starts but it’s with my management at the moment and they allow me to focus fully on Parra," Moses said on Tuesday.

"I have full faith in them that when the time’s right they’ll let me know and I have let Brad [Arthur] know that my full focus is on Parra.

"Everyone has come in pretty excited and ready to go, we know we can mix it with the best.

"It has been a good challenge for us this pre-season with some good payers leaving and some good guys coming in as well.

"It was a bit heartbreaking how we finished last year and we would love to have taken it out but we’ve come back fired up and ready to go."

Four months after the Panthers went back-to-back and denied the Eels the chance to break a 36-year premiership drought, the two meet again on Saturday at BlueBet Stadium in the opening round of the Pre-Season Challenge.

Moses and fellow big guns Clint Gutherson, Dylan Brown and Maika Sivo will watch on from the sidelines, but star recruit Josh Hodgson gets his first chance to impress at hooker after a year out with an ACL injury.

"From Josh's first session, you knew straight away the type of player he has been for a number of years," said Gutherson.

"He can take control of a lot of things that I’m still learning in terms of my leadership. You can’t put a price on what he brings to this team."

At some point during the next three weeks, a price will be put on Moses and a deal finalised, with most expecting it to come down to a battle between his current club and the club where he made his NRL debut nine years ago.

Just 19 years old and sporting jersey No.19, the teenager lined up at fullback for Wests Tigers against the Panthers in round 17, 2014, part of a spine that also featured good mate Luke Brooks at halfback and Braith Anasta at five-eighth.

Nine years on and Anasta is calling the shots as host of Fox Footy's 'NRL 360',  Brooks is still calling the shots at the Tigers and still chasing a maiden finals appearance, while Moses is chasing an elusive premiership after coming so close in 2022.

"Brooksy is one of my best mates, I have known him since I was 10 years old," Moses said when quizzed about the possibility of reuniting with Brooks in 2024.

"I don't know what he was talking about though when he said he has been in my ear [about going back to the Tigers]. We speak all the time, we have a great relationship.

"It's going to be the toughest decision of my career but I haven't thought about that side of it [playing with Brooksy].

"Obviously I've got a say in it when it happens but I've left it with them and I'll focus on Parramatta. I've struck up some great friendships here.

"I've got pretty good management there where they just allow me to focus fully on Parramatta."

With his eyes firmly fixed on next week's Pre-Season Challenge against the Knights, Moses is adamant he will do his job, his management will do theirs, and all will be revealed in due time when the deal is done.