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AAP
AAP
Sport
Jasper Bruce

Moses, Papali'i talks continue at Eels

Negotiations are ongoing to keep Mitchell Moses at the Eels for the rest of his NRL career. (AAP)

Mitchell Moses looks set to finish his career at Parramatta but Isaiah Papali'i's future with the club remains uncertain.

Coach Brad Arthur has confirmed the Eels have the salary cap space to retain Papali'i if he chose to backflip on his move to Wests Tigers.

Moses' contract runs out at the end of 2023 but contains a player option that would allow him to stay at Parramatta until 2024.

The Eels fended off interest from rivals to re-sign Moses last year and are currently negotiating the terms of another contract extension with the 27-year-old's management.

The proposed deal would allow Moses to remain an Eel for life.

"I think he sees himself as that," Arthur said.

"All indications are that as a club we want him here and as a player, Mitch wants to be here.

"When it's mutual like that, it's just takes a little bit of to and fro. At some stage, it will get sorted but the positive is we want him here and he wants to be here."

The future of reigning Dally M Second-Rower of the Year Papali'i is less clear. In November, Papali'i signed with the Tigers for 2023 but did so on the understanding he would be playing under Michael Maguire - his coach at international level.

But since Papali'i signed his three-year deal, Maguire has been sacked and the Tigers, who are yet to name his full-time replacement, have slumped to the bottom of the ladder.

Reports emerged this week that Papali'i had been reconsidering his move to the struggling club but Arthur was reluctant to divulge details of his conversations with the second-rower.

"It's a private matter for Isaiah to handle," he said.

"It's with him and his management."

Papali'i joined the Eels on a cut-price deal last season but has since developed into one of the premier back-rowers in the game.

Even if he requested a pay rise, though, Papali'i could still squeeze under the salary cap at Parramatta, who are keen to keep the 23-year-old.

"It's possible," Arthur said.

"It's totally up to him what he needs to do and how he wants to handle it.

"He's a quality player. We see what he's done for our club. But also on the flipside what our club's done for him."

Arthur named co-captain Junior Paulo in his side to face the Warriors two days after the State of Origin decider and said he was unlikely to withdraw late.

"He wants to play. We want him to play, we need him to play, as long as he gets through tonight (Origin) OK," he said.

"At some stage we'll give him a rest but it probably won't be a game, it'll be some time off during the week."

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