NRL news 2024: Mitchell Moses post-game spray, Parramatta Eels, Andrew Johns comments

Andrew Johns has backed Mitchell Moses as the right man to deliver some harsh truth to his Parramatta teammates, with the side continuing to struggle in 2024.

In the wake of the Eels' heartbreaking loss in round 17, the star halfback reportedly gave a passionate address in the sheds post-game in a bid to turn their year around.

Moses was just days removed from arguably the best performance of his career in a dominant State of Origin win over Queensland, but despite his best efforts from an individual perspective, was unable to get the Eels over the line against the Knights.

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The defeat came as the club continues to search for a new head coach, with sources with knowledge of the situation claiming Moses was unhappy with the current direction.

Mitchell Moses sits alongside then Eels coach Brad Arthur. Getty

Speaking on Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour, Johns was quizzed on Moses giving a serve to his teammates and defended the playmaker's actions.

"I think it's good ... the sprays have got to come from your senior players to each other," he explained.

"They've got to keep everyone accountable, but you've got to pick your times.

"I think it's important … Moses is the dominant player there and you can see when he's not there how it affects them. It's the players who have got to keep everyone accountable, that's the key - it can't come from the coach all the time.

"You can see even when they got to the grand final two years ago, Mitchell was that intense and emotional guy on the field when things didn't go their way.

"That's his personality - he is intense and he keeps them all accountable."

Mitchell Moses in action for the Eels. Getty

Moses has been the marquee man at the Eels for many years and led them to a grand final appearance in 2022, ultimately falling short against a strong Penrith outfit.

This year, Parramatta have slumped towards the bottom of the NRL ladder and the issues facing the club both on and off the field have spilled over.

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"I saw Moses and Gutho get into it on the field, but they are both similar personalities," Johns continued.

"When they walk off the field, they don't think about it at all.

"If there was an issue, they would go up and say 'Let's talk about it'. It's hard to describe how intense and how emotional you get out there with the game on the line."

Clint Gutherson and Mitchell Moses have had their fair share of run-ins on the field. Getty

Johns recounted some of the harshest sprays he gave to or received from teammates and chalked it up to being a crucial part of playing top-level sport.

"There's a few I'm not really proud of," he said.

"I gave a few, I won't name names, but I gave a couple of pretty bad ones.

"In the heat of the battle, you've got to do that to win … it's not for everybody."

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