Can a fit Moses get Parra into finals contention?
With a healthy Mitch Moses at the helm, pundits Michael Carayannis and Jimmy Smith are confident the Parramatta Eels will be in finals contention for the 2026 NRL season.
Under Jason Ryles’ first year in charge, the Eels climbed from 15th to 11th on the ladder – a transformation that coincided with the star halfback’s return from injury late in the campaign. Coming back from a calf strain in Round 21, Moses guided Parramatta to five wins from their last seven games, giving fans and experts alike a glimpse of their potential with him fit and firing.
“The stat that I think is most notable: Mitch Moses played 13 games, with seven wins and six losses,” Smith told SEN 1170’s Boys of Summer. “You get the sense if he plays 24 – which is highly unlikely with State of Origin commitments – and with Michael describing him as the most influential player on team outcome, you do make the semi-finals when you extrapolate those numbers.”
Carayannis believes even 20 games from Moses – a mark he hasn’t hit since 2022 – would be enough to push the Eels into contention, especially with their new signings. “If they get 20 games out of Mitch Moses, I think they will be happy because they will be in finals contention,” he said.
The Eels have added Jonah Pezet and Jack de Belin to their roster for next season. Pezet will line up at six alongside Moses at seven, while de Belin – a 250-plus game veteran who impressed at the Dragons – brings crucial experience to the forward pack. “I don’t know whether he starts at lock or prop, but he’s a shrewd signing who can still play big minutes and has a lot to offer,” Carayannis added.
Parramatta will kick off their 2026 season on March 5, taking on the Storm at AAMI Park once again.
