The Dyldam Parramatta Eels have had their final training session in 2015 with the Blue and Gold entering their Christmas break, and despite a tough and gruelling two months of pre-season training, new recruit Kieren Moss says the past few weeks have flown by.
A new member of the Blue and Gold squad for the 2016 season, Moss says that making the move from the Penrith Panthers in the off-season has been a step out of his comfort zone, but one that has learnt a lot from.
“Preseason are always tough and it always feels like the longest part of the season but it has gone pretty quick. It has been pretty tough but I feel like I have got a fair bit out of it so far and I’m really looking forward to the future,” Moss said reflecting on the pre-season thus far.
“I was at Penrith last year, and have been there since playing in the Harold Matthews competition and I haven’t know anything else,” he added.
“Coming here was a bit out of my comfort zone but all the guys have been really welcoming and helpful which has made the transition a lot easier.”
The 22 year old fullback was part of the Penrith Panthers premiership-winning NSW Cup side in 2014, however he saw the Blue and Gold as his opportunity to crack into first grade and make his NRL debut.
“It was just the opportunity to make the move,” Moss said of his decision to join the Eels.
“I still had another year on my contract at Penrith and I thought that I saw some more opportunity here, and I figured to play first grade it was going to be here.”
However Moss knows that there is plenty of talented outside backs in the Blue and Gold squad, and he will need to fight for his position.
“There is a lot of talented outside backs here, so working with all of them has been good. There is a huge amount of talent here in our backline,” Moss said.
“Working with Michael Gordon, he has played State of Origin, one of the biggest games you can play, and anything I can pick up off what he does, and try add that to my game will only benefit me.”
And whilst his goal is to play first grade rugby league, a call up in the upcoming Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines will be a great boost to Moss’s confidence in the Blue and Gold.
“If I am lucky enough to get selected in the Nines I will over the moon, but at this stage, I am just taking it one step at time,” Moss said.
“If that does come [selection in the Nines] it’s in front of us but if I don’t, I will just have to deal with it, move on and keep working hard.”
Eels confirm pre-season schedule
The Eels will play a pre-season trial game against the Panthers, with all three grades in action in the week following the Eels pre-season trial match against the Gold Coast Titans at ANZAC Oval in Alice Springs on Saturday, February 13.
The Eels’ February trial matches also come off the back of the Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines on February 6 and 7 in Auckland, New Zealand.
