Parramatta players are in the dark over when captain Mitchell Moses will be fit to return, in what looms as a tough start to life under new coach Jason Ryles.
Moses wasn’t named in the squad for the Eels opener as he battles a reccurring foot injury that hampered a large portion of his 2024 season.
The halfback’s absence is terrible timing as they prepare to face premiership favourites Melbourne in round one – but there’s also uncertainty over when Moses will be back.
“We’ve got a great group of staff to work out what’s wrong with him,” recruit Zac Lomax told media on Wednesday.
“It’s been a bit of an ongoing thing, he had it last year … we’ll get to the bottom of it. He’s disappointed, he wanted to hit the ground running, because he missed a heap of footy.”
Lock-forward J’maine Hopgood, who also battled through injury woes last season, admits Moses’ teammates “don’t really know” when the No.7 will be fit and firing.
“Hopefully in the coming days, we can get a bit of a schedule on it,” he said.
“We don’t really know the extent of it – I guess that’s for the medical team to figure out.”
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The 30-year-old’s injury has opened the door for Ronald Volkman to start the year in the playmaking role, just a year after his NRL career appeared to be in limbo.
Volkman signed with the Dragons last year but after the club’s medical staff discovered a shoulder injury, the young Kiwi’s deal didn’t up getting registered.
“A lot of players come across adversity like that and it’s pretty easy to throw the game away, but Ronnie has just persevered,” Hopgood said.
“He’s got big shoes to fill, but he doesn’t need to do anything but his job.”
Volkman will be tasked with taking on a Storm outfit who look primed for another title tilt and will also be searching for a 23rd consecutive victory to begin a season.
But ending that streak is something the Eels are facing head-on.
“We’re the luckiest team in the comp, because we’re the ones who’ve got a chance to try and end it,” Hopgood said.
“It’s a bit of David vs Goliath there, but we’re gonna go down there and hopefully come away with a win.”
