Parramatta Eels problems exposed by Mitchell Moses spray, Queensland turn on Reece Walsh, Kalyn Ponga Origin return, Paul Crawley column – MASHAHER

Good on Mitchell Moses.

It’s about time someone with clout from within Parramatta had the backbone to hold the underperforming club accountable.

Just when you thought the Eels’ season couldn’t get any worse leading into Thursday night’s massive showdown against South Sydney, now we discover a seething Moses let rip in the rooms in the aftermath of last round’s disappointing loss to Newcastle.

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All week the talk has been how the Rabbitohs have more to play for in this highly anticipated clash between the NRL’s two worst performing teams of 2024.

At least the Bunnies are still alive with 10 rounds of the regular season remaining, albeit needing to win eight of their final 10 to make it to 32 competition points (which was last year’s top eight cut off).

Meanwhile, the Eels – with a star-studded roster many tipped as top four contenders this year – need to win every game to make it to 32 points.

But if that wasn’t bad enough, Moses’ frustration reportedly spilled over when he addressed senior players and staff after the loss to the Knights, with suggestions he had a direct dig at the club’s blazer brigade.

“No one outside this room is going to help us get out of this,” the Sydney Morning Herald reported Moses told those in the room.

This could be interpreted as a pointed comment at the club’s hierarchy for the sacking of popular coach Brad Arthur, and the dithering way they have gone about finding a replacement.

That came after Moses cut loose on Clint Gutherson in the dying moments on the field, after the skipper threw a wayward pass that led to Bradman Best sprinting away for the match-clincher.

It was embarrassing for both Moses and Gutherson how the cameras caught the playmaker giving it both barrels to his captain in back play.

Moses has been known to carry on like a pork chop at times with the way he lambastes teammates when something goes wrong.

But this time it was understandable given the incredibly disappointing year Parra has had through no fault of Moses.

Here was a bloke coming back from starring as man of the match in NSW’s historic State of Origin win in Melbourne.

Days later he was part of a defeat in a game the Eels should have won that all but ended their season with more than two months of the regular season to play.

In fairness to Gutherson, at least he was trying to make something happen at the death.

But mistakes like this have been absolutely killing the Eels all year, and it’s high time issues were addressed – on and off the field.

It’s just a pity other teammates didn’t play with the same energy and commitment as they did against the Knights when Moses and Gutherson were on the injured list.

Arthur might still have his job.

I maintain Parra would not be equal last had the board given Arthur the chance to at least prove he could turn it around when Moses and Gutherson returned from injury.

The legendary former Australian coach Don Furner lived by the motto that you don’t move on a player unless you have a better one to replace him.

The same goes with coaching.

The Eels’ board have shown their naivety throughout this entire process.

By the time they made a play for Wayne Bennett, the super coach was already committed to Souths next year.

The club can put out any PR spin they want to deny it, but they are only kidding themselves.

All it did was send them into a mad scramble to try and find a replacement after notifying Arthur he was gone.

It’s been a shambolic game of catch up ever since.

Players also need to accept their part of the blame.

You look at some of the salaries of these senior players and you are entitled to wonder how their hand doesn’t shake when they dive into the wallets and pull out the bank card.

There are at least seven reportedly on a bigger wage than Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Take Moses and Gutherson out of this equation because there is not a game where the two highest paid players don’t bust their gut.

Yet look at some of the other exorbitant salaries for ageing and underperforming players and it just doesn’t add up.

On last year’s Daily Telegraph NRL Rich 100, Junior Paulo was on $950,000, Dylan Brown on $800,000 plus, Reagan Campbell-Gillard $750,000 and Ryan Matterson $600,000.

Gorden Tallis pointed the finger directly at the Eels’ engine room on NRL 360 this week when Tallis said it was not the coach’s job to make the players turn up with the right attitude every week.

But it is almost always the coach who pays the price when players – or management – don’t deliver.

ARE QUEENSLANDERS TURNING ON THEIR OWN?

Gotta love Queenslanders. Loyal to a fault when everything is going gangbusters.

But when the first sign of trouble appears, they scatter in every direction.

Now former Maroons Scott Sattler and Corey Parker have led the charge on bringing back Kalyn Ponga with questions if he even replaces Reece Walsh in the Origin decider.

But will Billy Slater dare do the unthinkable and drop Walsh if the superstar Newcastle Knight comes back with a bang this weekend?

No Queenslander will say it publicly but there is genuine concern for Walsh’s welfare on the back of his Origin II performance following that sickening Joseph Suaalii send off in game one.

Walsh played like a deer in the headlights in Melbourne and was manhandled more than once (think back to Latrell Mitchell rag-dolling him to the ground), before being rested in the Broncos’ last round loss.

Walsh is named to return against the Panthers in the grand final rematch on Friday night, while Ponga is back from a 10-week spell for a foot injury against the Raiders on Sunday.

Ponga has a history of terrorising the Green Machine.

There are still some questions over if he will even play against the Raiders.

But if he goes out and blows them off the park it would be near impossible for Slater not to consider last year’s Dally M Medal winner for the Origin decider, with the teams to be named after the round.

Slater could also name Ponga on his bench to play that super sub role Selwyn Cobbo did in game one, given the injury to Xavier Coates has opened the door for Cobbo to come back and start.

There’s nothing wrong with making changes.

Just don’t carry on about the pick and stick mentality only to abandon it when times get tough.

MONTH FROM HELL WILL TELL HOW FAR DRAGONS HAVE COME

St George Illawarra has done a terrific job fighting back from where they were this time last year.

The Dragons were last after 17 rounds in 2023.

Now they sit in the top eight heading into Sunday’s clash against the Sydney Roosters, who spanked them 60-18 back on Anzac Day.

But coming off wins over the Dolphins, Sea Eagles, Tigers and Panthers in the past month, the road ahead is about to take a steep incline.

After the Roosters it’s the Broncos, Panthers, Storm and Bulldogs.

I’m not saying the Dragons can’t hold on to fight their way into the top eight, but the next five games will tell us exactly where they stand.