The Wests Tigers have all but secured English international John Bateman for the 2023 season but SEN’s Michelle Bishop has revealed the deal has yet to be confirmed as the club believes it can also acquire Parramatta Eels halfback Mitchell Moses.
Moses began his career at the Tigers in 2014 and after 67 matches with the club and subsequently moved to Parramatta midway through 2017 season. The 28-year-old is off contract at the end of the 2023 season and is available to be signed for the 2024 season.
Bishop said that the Tigers are holding out on signing Bateman until they know more details around the salary cap and evaluate whether making a bid on Moses is possible.
“The Wests Tigers have actually agreed to pay Bateman’s transfer fee from the UK. That’s all happening,” Bishop said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“The Mitchell Moses situation could be the thing that’s holding it up.
“The Tigers are going all guns blazing and they actually want Moses for 2023.
“They need to leave some cash in the cap for that to become a reality.
“Both Bateman and Moses share the same player manager, so they clearly hold the trump card in this one.
“Nervous times for Eels fans.”
Bishop said that it was “wishful thinking” on the Tigers part but commended the club for aggressively pursuing star players.
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio said that Moses will see out the final year of his contract at the Eels but is long odds to remain at the club beyond the 2023 season.
“I received a call (from a source) that suggested there is no way in the world that Mitchell Moses will be there (at the Eels) in 2024,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“If I’m a betting man, I don’t believe that Mitchell Moses will be there in 2024.
“How the Eels try to juggle Dylan Brown, Mitchell Moses, Clint Gutherson, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Junior Paulo, Josh Hodgson and Ryan Matterson into a salary cap is going to be a struggle.
“Parramatta have put a significant four-year package together for Mitch but I don’t think it’s going to be in the vicinity of what rival clubs like the Bulldogs and Tigers will be able to put together.
“I can tell you that Parramatta officials are nervous.
“They are nervous about where this is going to go.”