Andrew Johns is backing the long kicking game of Mitchell Moses to snap a losing streak that’s put the Eels in wooden spoon contention.
The Immortal’s prediction comes after the Parramatta halfback put his club back in the headlines due to a spray he gave his team in the dressing room after Saturday’s loss to the Knights.
According to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald, Moses made an impassioned plea to his teammates to lift themselves out of a rot that has only been exacerbated by Brad Arthur’s axing.
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But according to Johns, the NSW halfback is the man most likely to secure a much needed win, with Thursday night’s game against the Rabbitohs expected to be a wet and slippery affair at CommBank Stadium.
Mitchell Moses is congratulated by Eels players during their round 17 loss to the Knights. Getty
Moses has arguably the best long kicking game in the NRL, which could be a trump card against a South Sydney team that has found form on the back of a rejuvenated Latrell Mitchell and a more balanced forward pack featuring star skipper Cameron Murray.
Moses, Mitchell and Murray are the three biggest drawcards involved in Thursday night’s game, which features two bottom four teams that were both expected to be finals contenders at the start of the season.
“Eels – I think they’ve been playing too good not to get a win soon,” Brad Fittler said on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and the Eighth’s Tips.
Johns agreed and was dumbfounded the Rabbitohs and Eels are both positioned in the bottom four of the ladder.
“Eels last week against the Knights were really good,” he said.
“Knights scored off two errors against the Eels – Bradman [Best] ran 90 metres … I think that form will stack up and I like the Eels at home.
“It’ll be wet and slippery and Moses’ kicking game will be really important.”
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The 29-year-old halfback was superb in NSW’s dominant game two State of Origin victory in Melbourne, putting together a nearly flawless kicking performance on the way to man of the match honours as the Blues squared the series.
However, a key to capitalising on Moses’ game management was the lethal addition of Latrell Mitchell at left centre and the Rabbitohs fullback will be eager to continue to lead his side’s charge up the ladder, with Ben Hornby’s men currently sitting two wins outside the top eight.
A win on Thursday night will likely put them in striking distance of a finals spot and the majority of Nine’s tipsters are backing them to do just that.
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 18 tips by all Nine’s expert tipsters!
Nine’s NRL tipping leaderboard. Nine
Andrew Johns: Eels, Sharks, Broncos, Warriors, Storm, Cowboys, Roosters, Knights
Brad Fittler: Eels, Sharks, Broncos, Warriors, Storm, Cowboys, Roosters, Raiders
Allana Ferguson: Rabbitohs, Sharks, Panthers, Bulldogs, Storm, Cowboys, Roosters, Raiders
Paul Gallen: Rabbitohs, Sharks, Broncos, Storm, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Raiders
Darren Lockyer: Rabbitohs, Titans, Broncos, Bulldogs, Storm, Cowboys, Roosters, Raiders
Wally Lewis: Rabbitohs, Sharks, Panthers, Bulldogs, Storm, Cowboys, Roosters, Knights
Peter Psaltis: Rabbitohs, Sharks, Panthers, Bulldogs, Storm, Cowboys, Roosters, Raiders
Mat Thompson: Rabbitohs, Titans, Panthers, Bulldogs, Storm, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Knights
The Mole: Eels, Sharks, Panthers, Warriors, Storm, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Knights
Ben Glover: Rabbitohs, Sharks, Panthers, Bulldogs, Storm, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Knights