Speculation was rife at the end of last year, following the Eels being toppled in the finals in straight sets, that Moses was on the outer at Parramatta.

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There was even talk that the Eels and Knights were contemplating a swap deal involving Moses and Mitchell Pearce — rumours that were far from the truth.

The club has now showed its hand by moving to lock up the halfback before a ball has even been kicked in 2021, doubling down on its belief that Moses is the man to help break the club’s premiership drought.

The Eels wouldn’t be blamed for sitting back and seeing how Moses starts the year before determining its course of action, especially considering the development of coach Brad Arthur’s son, Jake in the background. The likes of Pearce, Adam Reynolds, Shaun Johnson, Anthony Milford and Jahrome Hughes are all off contract, however club powerbrokers insist Moses is their man.

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Moses and halves partner Dylan Brown were both in sublime touch to start last season, but Moses was unable to rediscover the form when he returned from a calf injury that saw him sidelined for a month in the middle of the season.

The Eels won nine of their first 10 games of the season — but just four of their last nine games — with Moses in the side, culminating in their exit from the competition at the hands of South Sydney in week two of the play-offs.

Despite, doubts that have been raised over Moses’ ability to take a team to the next level, the Eels appear to have no such reservations over the 26-year-old’s ability.

The Eels have been in negotiations with Mitchell’s older brother Stephen, who has been entrusted with overseeing discussions on behalf of his cousin, deregistered agent Isaac Moses.