NSW officials have defended their handling of Mitchell Moses whose calf injury left Parramatta reportedly seething about the playmaker’s training loads in camp.
The Eels, according to News Limited, were fuming Moses broke down at Blues training last Thursday, and is now out of action for state and club the next six weeks.
“Parramatta handed over control of the situation to the Blues when Moses went into camp with NSW, and it is understood they told them Moses had been managed in recent weeks,” the report said.
“However, he was only with the team for a matter of days before he went down with a calf problem, undergoing scans which revealed he could spend up to six weeks on the sidelines.”
NSW general manager Frank Ponissi could appreciate the Eels being disappointed after losing their star playmaker while he was not on club duty, but said the Blues could not have looked after Moses any better, and the injury “unpreventable”.
“We’re annoyed at suggestions Mitch did the injury because of a workload issue,” Ponissi said.
Mitchell Moses is facing six weeks on the sideline with a calf injury.Credit: Getty Images
“Mitch was one of the players who played on the Monday before coming into camp, he did nothing Tuesday, had a walk-through in his sneakers on Wednesday, then suffered a calf injury only 20 minute into Thursday’s training session.
“It couldn’t have been a load issue because we had barely started training that day.
“I understand Parramatta’s disappointment when it comes to losing a star player. I know because it happened plenty of times with Melbourne.
“Parramatta might be frustrated, but it was never a training load issue – and I support our performance staff and coaches. Our performance manager Andrew Gray does an outstanding job with player workloads. Our CEO Dave Trodden also made a point of getting a charter flight to and from Perth to help with player comfort and recovery.
“We even made a point of bringing in four extra players to training to help with the workloads. There’s not much more we could have done.”
Moses suffered tightness in the same calf in the final 15 minutes of Origin I, with Eels coach Jason Ryles opting to give the halfback four straight days on the masseuse table before playing him against Penrith. He was replaced by Jarome Luai for Origin II.
Ponissi pointed out the Blues had looked after winger Brian To’o, who went into camp with a hamstring issue, then scored three tries, and ran more than 200m to be given the player’s player gong.
Nathan Cleary and Payne Haas suffered groin injuries 48 hours before Wednesday night’s game, with Haas’ metal studs getting stuck in the playing surface at HBF Park, and Cleary feeling a “pop” in his right groin with his first shot at goals during the captain’s run.
Both players worked with the Blues’ medical team, and gave assurances they would not be liabilities if they took the field at Optus Stadium. Cleary and Haas praised the NSW medicos for ensuring they were fit to play.
The Eels are not the first club to feel aggrieved after losing a player while on representative duty. South Sydney skipper Cameron Murray suffered a wrist injury playing for the Kangaroos during last year’s Pacific Championships. Murray injured his wrist at training before the game, but coach Mal Meninga defended starting him.
“The welfare of our players is the most important thing, but he felt like he could play, and he made that choice,” Meninga said at the time.
