If the NSW halfback decision was coming down to the results on the weekend, Eels halfback Mitchell Moses would have ensured he got the nod after a brilliant performance against the Bulldogs.
The 34-12 win was the perfect audition for Moses as he seeks his second Origin jersey, playing a starring role in the side’s first half domination of Canterbury.
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Moses had two try assists, a line break and four tackle busts as the Eels opened up a 24-6 lead at the break.
Although he only added a line break assist in the second half Moses ran 13 times for 98m for the match, it was a brilliant performance from the 2022 grand finalists.
Having come into the weekend in a three-way battle for the Blues’ No. 7 jersey alongside Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes and Broncos’ Adam Reynolds after Nathan Cleary’s hamstring injury ruled him out of the series, Moses stood up when it counted most.
Although Reynolds scored the matchwinner for the Broncos over the Knights and Hynes’ Sharks were thumped by the Storm.
At halftime, Yvonne Sampson said: “The Eels with an excellent first 40 minutes as Mitch Moses locked up his State of Origin selection.”
“Mitch Moses has had an out of this world first 40 minutes,” she added.
Moses was unlucky not to score a try after charging down Matt Burton’s trick play from a scrum but was deemed off-side.
Michael Ennis added: “The story today is Mitch Moses. When asked to stand up and deliver for a NSW jersey, Brad Fittler must be sitting there going ‘hell’. He is turning it on today.”
Former Queensland halfback Cooper Cronk also praised the Eels half.
“Congratulations to Mitch because in moments like this, sometimes you can withdraw and stay out of the contest,” Cronk said.
“He’s got a cut on his eye, he’s running the football, making some good one-on-one tackles, so he’s up and about.”
As the coverage came back from the break, Fox League commentator Warren Smith said Moses had been “sensational in his Origin audition for NSW”.
“You can start stitching his name on the blazer now I would reckon,” he added.
Fans were also saying the same thing on social media, while Broncos fans even conceded Moses’ performance had answered all the questions.
Heading into the weekend, Moses was believed to have his nose in front of Reynolds and Hynes.
Speaking after the match, Moses said the Blues discussion was not on his mind.
“I just wanted to come out here and put in a good performance for Parramatta,” he said.
“It was a big game for us in the context of the season so we needed to get a win.”
When asked if he’d spoken to Fittler during the week, Moses shook his head.
“Nah nothing like that — I fully respect that as well,” he said. “I just wanted to come over here and play well for Parramatta and whatever comes off the back of that comes off the back of that.”
Playing without Dylan Brown, who was stood down under the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy, the Eels didn’t miss a beat as the side moved up to ninth on the ladder with the club’s seventh win of the season.
While the scoreline was somewhat lopsided, Bulldogs fans will be fuming over some 50-50 calls which went against them.
The crowd booed after the first try in the first half looked as though Will Penisini had touched the ball as it popped out for the first of captain Clint Gutherson’s three tries.
There was also question marks over the Eels first try of the second half when Penisini got over the line but appeared to lift his arm after he’d been tackled to ground the ball.