Eels journey gets brighter with Moses back in charge

The 30-year-old halfback was man of the match in the upset 22-20 win over Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night after missing the previous six weeks.

The NSW star kicked the Broncos to death and controlled the game from start to finish in a masterclass. His teammates came with him.

Moses has played just seven games this season due to a foot and most recently calf injury. He has missed 11 games but his influence in the matches he has lined up in is compelling.

The Eels, who moved to 14th with the win over Brisbane, have won three of the seven games with Moses but they have been in contention to win in all of them.

The side's points for and against in games with Moses is 144 for and 144 against.

Without him it is 191 for and 338 against.

None was happier to see him back than coach Jason Ryles.

"His presence in the team gives the boys confidence and obviously his game management and kicking game is really important for us," Ryles said.

The skipper admitted it had been tough watching his teammates.

"For most of the season I haven't been able to contribute and it has been hard watching from the sideline and seeing how hard the boys have been trying and not coming up with results," Moses said.

"We have been in games for long periods but probably not 80 minutes. I wanted to make sure I came in tonight and made a difference. 

"We just wanted to focus on an 80-minute performance and I thought our young kids were unreal.

"Some of the boys have been under the pump the last few weeks and Rylesy pretty much challenged them and they turned up."

One of those was new fullback Joash Papalii who ran for 150m, made a line break and had a line break assist 

The game almost ended in disaster for the 21-year-old in just his eighth NRL match. He fumbled a grubber in the final minute and Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh thought he'd scored the match winner before being correctly ruled offside.

"That is the first time Joash has played NRL for 80 minutes at fullback and I thought he was outstanding," Ryles said.

"It could have been disappointing at the end but his first instinct is to pick it up and run the length. You've got to understand the time of the game and where it is at and it will be a really good learning for him."

After a 0-4 start to the season Parramatta have moved up the ladder and are playing tough and enterprising football as they rebuild.

"We are really early in our journey and the biggest thing for me is that the players are improving each week ... and us as staff as well," Ryles said. 

"We have been getting that from round one to round 21 and we will look to continue doing that."

Australian Associated Press