Two former Wests Tigers who chased their premiership dream elsewhere know better than most how Mitchell Moses is ready to lead Parramatta to an unlikely grand final victory.
James Tedesco is one of Moses’ best friends, will include him as a groomsman at his wedding, and has already passed on some tips to help him survive the week with Parramatta.
And Todd Payten, who coached Moses in the under 20s at the Tigers – and was crowned coach of the year at the Dally Ms on Wednesday night – said the signs were always there for Moses to achieve something special.
“Mitch is a gun, and even before I coached him in the 20s at the Tigers, we’d have opposed sessions against Holy Cross Ryde where he stood out for them in those games,” Payten said.
“I remember he was getting ready to play in a big [schoolboys] final, we had an opposed session, there was a grubber kick put in behind their defensive line, he came in as cover and one of our guys collided with him and broke his leg.
“Mitch ended up missing that final. I remember the stress of their coach at the time because Mitch was so important to them.
Two high-profile former Wests Tigers have backed Mitchell Moses to achieve premiership success.Credit:Steven Siewert/Sydney Morning Herald
“He scored some great tries for us in the 20s. He’d chip and chase 40m from our line, and I’d be swearing and carrying on in the box, but then he’d regather, step and draw the winger, and I’d be like, ‘good job, Mitch’. He did it the other night against us, maybe off a forward pass, but that’s the type of footy he’s got in him.
“He sees the game different than most, and can anticipate and set up things.
“As much as last week hurt us [losing], I was happy for him.”
Tedesco was part of the “Big Four” at the Tigers, along with Luke Brooks and Aaron Woods, and left to enjoy premiership success at the Sydney Roosters.
Mitchell Moses and James Tedesco are best mates.
He would often travel overseas with Moses and even lived with him when he was the Roosters and Moses at the Eels.
“I’ll go for Parra on Sunday because of Mitch, and I think they can do it,” Tedesco told the Herald.
“He’s one of my best mates, he’s part of my bridal party, I saw him on Tuesday and he’s had a newborn.
“He’s happy and looks calm and is ready to go. He plays a pivotal role for Parra, and when he’s on the whole team is on.”
As for what advice he could impart on Moses, Tedesco said: “I’ll speak to him a bit. He’s enjoying the week, and that’s the most important thing. It’s about enjoying the whole moment.
“If they win, he’s the best, if they lose, then he’s not. He understands that. It’s not fair. All halves have it like that.“
Tedesco will head to Accor Stadium and watch Moses do what he was able to achieve with the Roosters in 2018 and 2019.
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