Parramatta Eels Star Mitchell Moses Hilariously Stitched Up After Recent Journalist Ban Incident Involving His Notorious Player Agent Uncle
The NRL never seems to go a week without drama, and this time it’s Parramatta Eels halfback Mitchell Moses at the centre of the storm. The playmaker, known for his on-field brilliance and occasional run-ins with media scrutiny, has once again found himself the talk of rugby league circles after a bizarre, almost comical incident involving his notorious player agent uncle and a journalist ban that left fans, reporters, and even teammates in stitches.
What began as a tense exchange quickly spiralled into one of the most hilariously awkward sagas of the 2025 season. For Moses, who has often tried to keep his professional commitments separate from his family ties, this was a classic case of being “stitched up” — and the fallout has sparked everything from serious debates about media access to light-hearted memes across the rugby league community.
In this article, we’ll unpack the full 4000-word saga: the background to Moses’ complicated relationship with the press, the rise and infamy of his player agent uncle, the details of the recent ban incident, and why the reaction from fans and media has been as funny as it has been telling about the state of the modern game.
1. Setting the Stage: Moses’ Place in the NRL
Before diving into the comedy of errors that was the journalist ban incident, it’s worth remembering where Mitchell Moses sits in the grand scheme of the NRL.
At 31 years old, Moses is one of the most decorated halfbacks of his era. A New South Wales Origin representative, a Grand Finalist with the Eels, and a player consistently rated among the league’s top playmakers, he has been the beating heart of Parramatta’s attack for nearly a decade.
Moses is not only celebrated for his crisp passing and tactical kicking game but also for his fiery competitiveness — a trait that often spills over in interactions with referees, opponents, and, on more than one occasion, the media.
But behind the sharp football mind is a player constantly battling the narratives written about him: some casting him as a big-game choker, others hailing him as the Eels’ savior. In such a climate, it’s little wonder that Moses is sensitive about media portrayals.
2. Enter the Uncle: The Infamous Player Agent
Adding spice to the saga is Moses’ uncle, a well-known player agent who has built a reputation in rugby league circles for being both fiercely loyal to his clients and infamously combative with journalists.
Over the years, he has developed a reputation as the “bulldog of negotiations” — someone who will fight tooth and nail for his clients, sometimes at the expense of relationships with clubs and the press. His ability to secure blockbuster contracts for his players has earned him grudging respect from some, but also suspicion, resentment, and plenty of headlines.
Within the Eels community, he is a controversial figure. Some fans admire his tough stance, others see him as a distraction who too often drags Moses into messy disputes.
And it was precisely this dynamic that came to the fore in the most recent incident.
3. The Journalist Ban That Started It All
The trouble began after a tense Parramatta training session earlier this month. Reporters had gathered at Kellyville Park to get updates on the Eels’ preparation ahead of a crucial finals push. Moses, fresh off a strong performance, was expected to front the cameras.
But when one particular journalist — a long-time critic of Moses’ performances — attempted to approach him for questions, the halfback’s uncle reportedly intervened. Witnesses say he stormed across the field and told the reporter in no uncertain terms that he was banned from speaking to his nephew.
The situation escalated quickly. Other journalists present bristled at the heavy-handedness, arguing that no player’s relative — even a powerful agent — had the authority to dictate media access. The club’s media staff looked caught off guard, with one insider later describing the scene as “a circus.”
By the end of the day, word had spread: Moses’ uncle had effectively tried to ban a journalist from covering the Eels’ star playmaker.
4. Moses Gets Stitched Up
The real kicker? Moses himself had apparently no idea what had transpired until after training. When informed by teammates, he reportedly shook his head and laughed, groaning:
“Oh no, what’s he done this time?”
Teammates wasted no time ribbing him. During a recovery session, one player is said to have cheekily pretended to “ban” a teammate from sitting near Moses in the ice bath, while others joked that reporters would now need written permission from “Uncle Agent” to speak to him.
By the time Moses fronted the cameras the following day, he couldn’t avoid addressing the incident. With a sheepish grin, he told reporters:
“Look, I love my uncle, but I don’t control what he says. I’ll talk to whoever I need to — unless he bans me from myself.”
The line, delivered with perfect timing, had the media pack chuckling. But it also cemented the narrative that Moses had been hilariously stitched up by a family member with a reputation for stirring trouble.
5. Media and Fan Reactions
Unsurprisingly, the saga became a lightning rod for commentary.
5.1 Journalists’ Perspective
For many in the press, the incident highlighted a growing tension between players, their agents, and the media. Some wrote scathing columns about overreach, insisting that access to players is a fundamental part of covering the sport fairly. Others took a lighter tone, joking about whether they too might soon receive “bans” from overzealous relatives.
5.2 Fans’ Perspective
Fans, meanwhile, were quick to seize on the comedy of it all. Social media exploded with memes, including photoshopped images of Moses wearing a “MEDIA BANNED” T-shirt, and mock “official ban letters” circulating with his uncle’s signature.
One popular meme featured Moses holding a stop sign with the caption: “Access Denied: Please Contact My Uncle.”
5.3 Club’s Response
The Parramatta Eels, keen to keep the situation from spiraling further, released a short statement clarifying that media access is managed by the club, not player relatives. Behind the scenes, however, insiders say even staffers were struggling not to laugh at the absurdity of the situation.
6. The Larger Conversation: Media, Agents, and Players
While the incident is funny on the surface, it also touches on deeper issues within rugby league:
- The Role of Player Agents: Increasingly, agents are seen as wielding too much influence, not only over contracts but also over media narratives.
- Player Protection vs. Media Rights: There is an ongoing tension between shielding players from harsh coverage and allowing journalists to do their jobs.
- Family Ties in Professional Sport: When agents are also relatives, lines between personal loyalty and professional responsibility often blur.
Moses’ situation illustrates how these factors can collide in unexpected, often messy ways.
7. Historical Parallels
This isn’t the first time rugby league has seen awkward intersections of family, media, and management. From Johnathan Thurston’s carefully controlled press appearances to Anthony Mundine’s high-profile clashes with reporters, the sport has long grappled with how much access is too much.
What makes Moses’ saga stand out is the sheer comedy of the execution. Unlike past incidents that turned ugly, this one played out like an awkward sitcom plot — a protective uncle barging in, a confused nephew left to clean up, and a chorus of amused teammates and fans watching from the sidelines.
8. Moses’ Handling of the Fallout
If anything, Moses’ handling of the situation has earned him praise. By leaning into the humor rather than going on the defensive, he diffused what could have become a PR nightmare. His ability to laugh at himself — and gently rib his uncle in the process — showed growth in how he manages media scrutiny.
One senior journalist later admitted:
“Look, we’ve had our issues with Mitch in the past, but he handled this one brilliantly. Sometimes laughter is the best response.”
9. Where To From Here?
The saga is unlikely to have lasting consequences for Moses or the Eels, but it does serve as a reminder of the sometimes surreal intersection between family loyalty and professional sport.
It also raises questions about whether the NRL should revisit its guidelines around media access, ensuring that such decisions remain firmly within club and league control.
For Moses, though, it’s another chapter in a career already filled with highs, lows, and plenty of headline-grabbing moments.
10. Conclusion: A Stitched-Up Star
In the end, the journalist ban incident will likely go down as one of the more light-hearted controversies of the 2025 NRL season. For Moses, it was a reminder that no matter how hard he tries to control his public image, sometimes family ties have a way of pulling him into the spotlight in ways he can’t predict.
And for fans, it was a much-needed moment of comic relief in a season otherwise dominated by injuries, contract dramas, and finals pressure.
As one cheeky supporter put it on Twitter:
“Mitchell Moses may be Parramatta’s halfback, but his uncle is clearly the captain of chaos.”
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