BY DAN

Another team list. Again, Trey Mooney sitting on the extended bench, unable to find his way into the 17 even with the injuries to Elliott Whitehead and Zac Hosking, and a desperate need for revitalisation following a calamitous performance.

You see it. I see it. Every podcast host from here to the central coast and everywhere in between is (metaphorically) crying into their microphones trying to understand. We watch Mooney outperforming the competition in reserve grade. He’s averaging the best part of 180 clicks on the ground, has 18 tackle breaks in four games (on pace for 80 plus for the season) and three tries. He’s had two games with 90 plus post contact metres, and frankly looks like the big kid in under twelves. Even his defence, the only thing I could peg as being between him and first grade is more aggressive and effective this year.

But it’s not been enough and he continues to sit outside, hopefully patient and with clear communication from the first grade coaching staff as to the way to the top line. If I’ve learned anything about NSW Cup Coach Brock Shepperd from literal years of listening to him on the Fifth and Last Podcast, it’s that he values communicating expectations to players clearly. That Brock is also in the room with the first grade coaches means that hopefully everyone is being clear. This is probably naive but we should hold on to this. The alternative is a bit depressing.

Regardless, the fact that Mooney’s contract is up this season, and that he can’t find a way into the top line up, is making many people (including myself, and apparently his Dad if social media is anything to go by) nervous about his status with the club. I’ve heard muttering about other club’s interest, notably the ‘Phins, Sharks, and Knights, but without anything concrete being reported it’s just us putting our finger in the air and hoping the breeze is strong enough to give us a hint.

With that said it’s hard not to assume that the continued absence of Mooney from either a first 17 or a contract announcement is a sign that he might not be with the club beyond this year. He’d be in first 17s for a dozen other sides across the competition, including teams that would be arguably better positioned that the Milk to compete for premierships.

One can assume Coach Stuart is ‘doing it right’ in terms of Mooney’s development, making sure he’s absolutely ready before sending him up. One can also assume there’s things he needs to work on in his game that are keeping him from being a top line player. The tail of the tape in this space is in Stuart’s favour, in the sense he generally has been proven right in terms of his ability to identify when a player was ready.

At the same time there remains ramifications for this. Mooney can be signed by another club at any moment. The Raiders flagged in the offseason they were intent on keeping him but an offer of Cup footy and the associated wage level would be far less appealing than minutes and money at other clubs.

Indeed Raiders list boss Joel Carbone seems desperate:

We definitely 1 million per cent want to keep Trey, I can’t be any more emphatic. We want to keep Trey and we’re going to do what we can to keep Trey.

Carbone to the Canberra Times

An offer from the Milk is likely on the table. It seems as though it hasn’t been taken up.

It’s even possible to assume the Raiders may think it unlikely they’ll be able to keep Mooney. There’s too many middles and someone won’t be able to eat. That could be a self-perpetuating cycle. The Raiders don’t think they’ll keep Mooney, so they don’t play him, increasing the likelihood he’ll leave, leading them to not play him. Talk about living forever or dying in the attempt.

To keep Mooney Canberra will likely need to offer more; both in terms of money and opportunities. That may not necessarily gel with how Coach Stuart sees his potential, or alternatively, how far along the pathway to that potential he is. That’s the gap so to speak. Willingness to pay will be greater elsewhere. Willingness to play will also pull Mooney out away.

If Canberra keep him it will only be because he believes in the program’s ability to get more out of him than other teams. That would be a boon. Right now that’s feeling unlikely, particularly while Trey is watching from the outside.

Do us a solid and like our page on  Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or share this on social media because we got it like that. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.