How Wallaby Matt Burke and new halves partner Jonah Pezet will take Mitchell Moses to a new level for Parramatta Eels
“He brings that big-game experience.”
Pezet has made 18 NRL appearances after being stuck behind Storm stars Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster, but will get the first chance to wear the No.6 jersey vacated by Dylan Brown.
Matt Burke kicking a goal in 2008.Credit: Dallas Kilponen
“He’s very confident, he’s very loud, but it’s good,” Moses said.
“It’s something that we needed and even if it’s just for the year, it puts us in a really good position to win games now.
“He’s fit right in with the boys. He loves footy, I love footy, and we both enjoy learning new things, putting most of our time and our life into footy.”
The much publicised departure of Zac Lomax will result in Moses taking on the goal-kicking duties on a full-time basis. Burke, part of Australia’s 1999 Rugby World Cup-winning team, has been providing goal-kicking tuition as a consultant.
“Mitch hits them really well,” Burke said.
“He’s got skill, he’s got rhythm, he’s got tempo. He’s a golfer, so if there’s an analogy I use with golfing swings, he gets that.
“The golf swing is a really good example – you take the club away, be efficient and you have to be square when you hit the ball. It’s the same thing with the footy on contact.
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“It’s small things that get you in that right spot. We’ve just done a couple of tweaks … he’s been working hard by himself to make sure those tweaks come into effect.”
Moses said the Eels’ inability to convert tries wasn’t good enough last year and he was already benefiting from Burke’s tips.
“We didn’t goal kick well at all last year,” Moses said.
“There were some big games where our goal kicking cost us, we’re gonna have to be better in that aspect.
“We’ve had Burkey come in and do some goal-kicking with us, it’s been good.”
