Mitchell Moses has sunk the boot into the Tigers. Again.
And as Wests threatened the greatest Easter miracle since last year’s Easter miracle, Moses’ million-dollar slipper really did prove the difference.
A few weeks after knocking back interest from his old flame – to the tune of almost $1 million more than the four-year Eels extension he eventually signed – Moses’ kicking game was all that stood between the Tigers and Tim Sheens’ first NRL win in a decade.
When Moses nailed a late sideline conversion that should have sealed a 28-22 triumph, he gave a pointed ‘ssshhh’ to fans at Accor Stadium. He did so with a career-high four try-assists to his name.
So instead of the mother-of-all comeback wins, the Tigers finished with Adam Doueihi nursing what is feared to be a serious knee injury and Brent Naden a suspected broken collarbone.
Oh and they now sit stone-cold last, four points adrift of their nearest rivals – Parramatta among them.
You can forgive the Tigers faithful if they hadn’t kept the faith to that point. There’s only so many listless side-to-side shifts most of them can stand.
Faith be damned, maligned recruits Charlie Staines and Api Koroisau stepped up, the former’s speed helping send Junior Tupou over in the left-hand corner.
With Doueihi in the sheds, Koroisau lined up his first shot at goal in six years. With the greatest of respect, the kick was a shocker.
Staines, who had been the Tigers’ greatest attacking threat, spilled a drop-out cold and Parramatta struck, Clint Gutherson piloting Maika Sivo over to put the game to bed.
Eels halfback Mitchell Moses takes on the Tigers.Credit: NRL Photos
Even then though, out the other side of Moses’ clutch conversion, Luke Brooks took the tee and belted a late, long penalty goal just to keep things interesting right to the final whistle.
For much of the contest, the Eels didn’t look overly fussed.
For their sake, at least Moses kept up his own Easter Monday tradition of tormenting the Tigers, to the point of harassment.
Three pinpoint try assists from the halfback’s slipper made for an 18-6 half-time lead, despite the Eels enjoying just five tackles in the Tigers’ red-zone.
The Tigers had more themselves inside the first 10 minutes. But their high-profile pursuits of Moses, Cameron Munster and Mitchell Pearce, and in turn questions around Brooks and Doueihi, were underscored whenever the joint-venture found good field position, at least in the first 40.
On the other side of the ledger, Gutherson, Will Penisini and Bryce Cartwright all lined up and emerged with tries thanks to Moses.
Moses at least had the decency to lay on the Tigers’ first try as well with a pass that missed its mark and sat up perfectly for Starford To’a to run 70 metres.
But even when a Moses kick went awry, it went alright. A charged-down bomb early in the second half landed with Dylan Brown and almost another try there and then. A couple of tackles later, Moses threw a 20-metre pass for Sivo to barrel his way over.
Once the second stanza started, the Tigers showed infinitely more intent. Just as a blowout beckoned, the Tigers stirred, just as they did against Canterbury and Melbourne last month.
Ryan Matterson offloads against the Tigers at Accor Stadium.Credit: Getty
Brooks slung a long ball left on the last tackle, Asu Kepaoa took off and eventually finished some short passing between he and Tupou with a try.
When John Bateman popped Brent Naden over out wide, busting his shoulder in the process, Doueihi lined up a tense, tough conversion from out wide.
His strike never looked like missing, and the Eels’ lead was trimmed to just six.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, and they’re all too aware after doing the contract dance all summer, the Eels still had Moses.
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