Eels half Mitchell Moses has revealed what he said to Brad Arthur after the Eels coach told him to be with his partner for the birth of his first child.
“I can’t leave these boys”,” Moses told the Sydney Morning Herald
The 28-year-old instead watched the birth of his daughter Aspyn via FaceTime hours before his side’s thrilling 24-20 victory over the Cowboys on Friday night.
Parramatta has only played in two grand finals (2001 and 2009) since their last competition win in 1986 with Moses in the stands during the club’s heartbreaking loss to the Storm in 2009.
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“(Brad) said, ‘what are you doing here? Get out of here’,” Moses told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“I just looked at him and said, ‘I can’t’.
“I can’t leave these boys here given how hard we’ve worked all year.
“He addressed all the boys in the sheds and let everyone know I’d had my first child over FaceTime about an hour ago.
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“It was a pretty special moment. All the boys got around me and I felt very comfortable on the field.
“I would have loved to have been there for my first daughter. It’s just how it happened.
“She wasn’t meant to come until this week. She pretty much came at the wrong time, but that’s alright.
“It was still a special moment, but unfortunately, I couldn’t be there. That’s just how it happens.
“(But) we got off the flight and I jumped straight in my car and drove there as fast as I could to soak in the moment and meet her.”
The star-studded half was the main attraction at the club’s fan day on Monday, which saw 3000 tragic fans donning the blue and gold, eager to support their side leading into their biggest game of the year.
Sunday’s matchup against the Panthers will be a fairytale moment for Moses who grew up a diehard Eels fan.
“I supported Parramatta since I was a little kid and grew up in the area,” Moses said.
“I haven’t seen a grand final won by Parramatta and for me to be the halfback leading them to a comp, that would be unbelievable.
“I’ve been through (what the fans have been through) as well.
“It’s not just me that’s been through most of it, it’s every single player here.
“Most of us are playing in our first grand final, so we’re excited, pumped up and ready to go.”
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