JUST IN: Broncos’ agile backs prove too elusive for the Eels in a 30-14 victory

Arthur remains optimistic about the team’s performance, but Moses’s role in finding a solution is uncertain.

Brad Arthur emphasizes that Mitchell Moses may not be certain to recover from a foot injury in time for the upcoming game, as the Eels faced another defeat without their injured halfback. Moses is racing against time to make a comeback for the clash against Melbourne at Magic Round, with only one potential game before the selection of the first State of Origin team by NSW coach Michael Maguire, where Nathan Cleary from Penrith is expected to feature.

Cleary suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to exit the Panthers’ victory over the Bulldogs prematurely on Friday night. Looking ahead, the necessity for Moses has become increasingly apparent as the Eels, despite showing significant improvement, squandered numerous scoring opportunities in a 30-14 defeat to the Broncos at CommBank Stadium on the same evening.

The timing of Moses’ comeback from a foot fracture for Magic Round remains uncertain and will only be determined later in the week, even though there is a clear demand for additional options in the halves, especially from the Blues. When asked about the possibility of Moses returning earlier than anticipated, Arthur mentioned, “He’s making an effort. We’ll have a better idea after he gets more training over the weekend. He’s doing everything he can to be ready to play next week.

In the absence of Moses and co-captain Clint Gutherson, the Eels required a precise performance to overcome the Broncos. Brisbane capitalized on two long-range tries in the first half immediately following Parramatta’s turnover in attack.

Deine Mariner secured two tries, while Reece Walsh scored one and assisted Selwyn Cobbo with an impressive kick after the Broncos took a 10-point lead at halftime without much possession in the opposition’s red zone.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters acknowledged Parramatta’s strong performance, noting their unluckiness on a few occasions. He mentioned, “They could have scored with different opportunities. But when we needed to score, we managed to get points, which was crucial.”

Parramatta’s young fullback Blaize Talagi, filling in for Gutherson and yet to finalize a long-term contract with the Eels, displayed attacking prowess but also made critical errors in the wet conditions.

Despite Talagi’s promising performance and Dylan Brown’s best game at halfback, the Eels have only won once in six matches since Moses’ injury. They currently sit 13th on the ladder and are likely to finish the weekend three points outside the top eight.

Arthur acknowledged the team’s ability to create opportunities but their inability to capitalize on them. He expressed, “We generated a lot of chances. We just didn’t execute them or finish them off. But I liked the style of footy that we were playing. I enjoyed how we played [on Friday night].”

Arthur remains optimistic, stating, “When one of those balls bounces our way and it sticks for us, we’ll gain confidence. Like the boys just said, if they keep coming like that, it’s not that far away.