NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 14: Dylan Brown of the Eels is tackle by Jackson Hastings of the Knights during the 2025 NRL Pre-Season Challenge match between Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels at McDonald Jones Stadium on February 14, 2025 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
Eels seal deal on Origin star for five years – with no early exit option as Dolphins splash cash on English forward
Parramatta have ensured Mitch Moses will finish his career at the Eels, extending the halfback’s stay until 2029 in a deal that contains no options for an early exit.
With the future of five-eighth Dylan Brown clouded, Parramatta had faced the prospect of contract talks around Moses this season.
Already signed until the end of next year, Moses would have become a free agent on November 1 if he was not already extended by the Eels at that point.
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But there is now no chance of that becoming an issue, with the No.7 inking an extension that will see him through to his 35th birthday.
Crucially, AAP has been told there are also no options in either party’s favour for the deal to end early, after Parramatta had been plagued by such contracts recently.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“Mitch has been in consistently good form for many years now but none better than 2024,” Eels football Mark O’Neill said.
“The way he performed in Origin last year was outstanding and proved that he belongs in that arena.
“Being recently appointed captain continues the evolution of his development and is a very proud moment for him, his family and our club.
“Having a player of Mitch’s calibre commit the rest of his career to the Eels is fantastic news for his teammates, our partners, members and the entire Eels community.”
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Moses is expected to line up for Parramatta in round one against Melbourne next Sunday, despite still battling foot pain from an injury suffered last March.
The drama-free nature of the Eels’ captain’s extension will also come as a relief to new coach Jason Ryles.
When Moses re-signed in 2023, a circus surrounded his future and whether he could potentially return to Wests Tigers.
A similar situation surrounded former captain Clint Gutherson’s future with the club in 2021, before he too eventually re-signed.
Brown’s contract is now also a point of contention, despite having a deal with Parramatta that runs until 2031.
Under the terms of that contract, Brown has multiple options in his favour where he can either stay with the club or opt to walk at the end of a season.
The five-eighth has until round 10 of this year to determine whether he will take up the option to stay for 2026, or accept a big-money offers on the table from the likes of Newcastle.
The nature of the Moses deal means that won’t be a problem for Parramatta to contend with when it comes to their club captain, allowing him to be a fixture of their squad for the next five years.
Meanwhile, England international Morgan Knowles will boost the Dolphins’ burgeoning forward stocks when he joins the club in 2026.
The 28-year-old St Helens forward has inked a two-year deal and will link back up with head Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf. The pair forged a successful liaison when Woolf was coach of St Helens and they won three consecutive Super League titles together.
“Morgan is one of the hardest-working players I have had the privilege to deal with,” Woolf said. “”He is an international forward with an elite skill level and importantly, he is a winner.
“His four Super League titles and one Challenge Cup victory prove that he knows what it takes to win and is just the kind of player we want here at the Dolphins.
Knowles will complete his Super League commitments with St Helens in 2025 in what is a huge year for him after the RFL granted him a testimonial season to recognise his contributions to the league.
He has represented Wales four times and England on eight occasions, most recently in last year’s 2-0 series win over Samoa, where he impressed alongside Dolphins star centre Herbie Farnworth.
Knowles is the fourth signing announcement this week by the Dolphins as Woolf takes charge of his roster.
Utilities Max Plath and Kurt Donoghoe signed extensions, to 2028 and 2027 respectively. Newcastle prop Sebastian Su’a will also join the Dolphins from 2026 on a two-year deal.
