Rugby League World Cup 2022: Mitchell Moses’ leadership with Lebanon further enhances his standing among league’s elite halves

This season has been a coming of age for the Parramatta halfback, who has grown from another talented No.7 to a genuine leader in the game.

What has become apparent is, even after nine seasons in the NRL, we never really got to know the real Mitch Moses. And the more we’ve learned about him over the course of 2022, the clearer that has become.

We have finally glimpsed his true character because, for one reason or another, he’s allowing us to. And his performance in the World Cup for Lebanon as a passionate leader and class halfback is another example of what lies beneath an exterior that hasn’t been as open-hearted until now.

Rightly or wrongly, the narrative around Moses was always that he was spoiled – a huge talent with a little bit of a bad attitude. Whether those assumptions are founded in fact or fiction remains up for debate but, slowly over the past 18 months, that image has started to turn.

It started with his State of Origin debut for NSW last year, when he filled in for an injured Nathan Cleary in the last game of the series. Moses’ talent has never been questioned, but his toughness was affirmed when it was revealed he played 70 minutes with a fractured back and barely let on.

It was a big moment in the turning of opinion of the Eels star.

This year, those earlier assumptions have taken another huge pivot. On the field, he had the best season of his career. And his consistency as a kicker and playmaker drove the Eels to their first grand final since 2009.

But, as we discovered, there is more to the man. Missing the birth of his first child, daughter Aspyn, to play in the preliminary final against North Queensland just days after laying his grandmother to rest was a huge sign of maturity in the 28-year-old.

It revealed a burning desire to win, mental strength and rare levels of tenacity.

The day after the grand final loss to Penrith, Moses was signing autographs for Eels fans and showed class in admitting the Panthers were just exceptional. He smiled and showed kindness to fans who were no doubt as heartbroken as he was. There was no sign of the chip on his shoulder he has been known to carry throughout much of his career.

The humility carried through to his role as captain of Lebanon at the World Cup. Moments like giving away his man of the match medal from a 32-14 win against Ireland to a young Eels fan in the crowd won over more doubters, but it was his leadership within a young and inexperienced team throughout the pool games that shone brightest.

The Cedars’ hefty 48-4 loss to Australia was a David and Goliath assignment, only in this case the little guy couldn’t find a weakness. But nor were they expected to. For the Cedars, it was about pride and putting smiles on the faces of a passionate fan base who truly needed them.

The culture, spirit and heart produced by the Lebanese team throughout the World Cup has been a wonderful advertisement for the game and their quarter-final loss brings no shame to their proud nation. They have automatically qualified for the next Rugby League World Cup in France.

For all his development over the past season, these past few weeks have been Moses’ finest as a leader.

If not for Cleary, Moses would have more NSW No.7 jerseys in his future. If he was born in another time he would have a better shot at wearing a green-and-gold jersey for real, instead of swapping shirts with best mate James Tedesco at full-time on Friday night at Leeds.

And there is no indignity in that. Ask Jake Friend, who was stuck behind Cameron Smith at Origin level, or Brett Kimmorley and Andrew Johns, or Mitchell Pearce and Johnathan Thurston. For every superstar there’s another with just a little more edge. It’s the same story in every generation and in this one it’s Moses and Cleary.

But, perhaps most importantly for Moses, the change in public perception comes at a crucial time when he is weighing up possibly the biggest contract of his life.

At 28, Moses is at the peak of his powers both on and off the field and his next contract could be the last big one of his career, depending on how his body holds up over the next four or five years.

It’s no surprise that Parramatta are desperate to keep him, but also that the Wests Tigers and now Canterbury are interested. He’s been able to prove at long last that he’s more than just a fancy kicking game.

He’s captain material, and a damn good one at that.