Eels coach Brad Arthur has made the compassionate call to move training in preliminary final week so star halfback Mitch Moses could attend his grandmother’s funeral.
Moses starred against the Raiders in their semi-final last Friday night as Parramatta progressed to third week of finals for the first time since 2009.
They’ll face the Cowboys in Townsville on Friday for a spot in the grand final against either the Panthers or Rabbitohs.
But foxsports.com.au understands preparations for the club’s biggest game in 13 years were altered when Arthur allowed Moses to attend Barbara Elias’ funeral on Monday.
*Odds are current as of 19th September 2022, 5:38pm AEST
*Odds are current as of 19th September 2022, 5:38pm AEST
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The Eels were set to train on Monday morning but Arthur shifted the session to the afternoon to accommodate his best player.
Barbara became “the most famous mother in State of Origin history” when she ran onto the field in the dying stages of the 1992 series opener.
She jumped the fence at the Sydney Football Stadium to wipe blood from the head of her man-of-the-match son Benny Elias.
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Moses wasn’t born when the famous incident took place but has seen vision of the iconic Origin moment.
The 28-year-old was extremely close with his grandmother who was laid to rest in Sydney on Monday with several rugby league identities in attendance.
Moses is expecting to become a father for the first time during the finals series as Parramatta chase their first premiership since 1986.
The halfback reportedly has a clause in his contract which will see his annual salary jump from $900,000 to $1 million if the Eels win the grand final.
Parramatta are the only club to beat the Panthers twice this season and their week one finals clash was in the balance until Moses went down concussed.
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