Mbye and Madge clear air over mooted Titans move
Author
Dan Walsh
NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp
Mon 17 Aug 2020, 01:39 PM
Moses Mbye says he and Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire have reiterated his commitment to the club following interest from the Titans even though a volatile transfer market means players are "never really sure where you're going to end up".
As first reported by The Sydney Morning Herald last week, it's understood Mbye has been the subject of informal talks between the Tigers and Gold Coast about a potential move north next season.
The joint-venture is exploring how to ease salary cap pressure in a top-heavy roster ahead of 2021, though any move for Mbye hinges on how much the Tigers would be willing to chip in for his lucrative salary given he is contracted for the next two years.
It has been suggested the Tigers are open to paying up to half the freight on Mbye's estimated $800,000 wage to ease the club's tight salary cap, while the Gold Coast also have money to spend next year with several big earners moving on.
Mbye is known to have a close relationship with rookie Titans coach Justin Holbrook and his assistant Jim Dymock from their time together at Canterbury, while the Queensland Origin utility originally hails from Noosa as well.
By the same token Mbye says he and Maguire have an honest bond that saw the pair discuss his future as soon as it came under the spotlight.
Speaking for the first time on the matter, Mbye said his priority is to remain at the Tigers and continue the club's rebuild under Maguire, and that he had told his coach as much last week.
Our intention is certainly for me to be at the Tigers
"I had a yarn with him at training - nothing formal - Madge and myself, we have a really good relationship where we speak to each like mates," Mbye said after Sunday's last-gasp win over his former club Canterbury.
"We respect each other and we're honest with each other so we had a yarn about it.
"In terms of me leaving the club, I've got no desire to do that. I'm really enjoying my time at the Tigers.
"I did the mid-season move at the Bulldogs so I've already tried that. I'm enjoying my time here and my focus is here.
"The club's assured me - going off what Madge said to me - that they have the same intention.
"If anything changes, we know what it's like the game of rugby league, you don't know where you're going to end up. But our intention is certainly for me to be at the Tigers."
Mbye's future, both club and position-wise, has come under scrutiny since his signing from Canterbury by Ivan Cleary two years ago.
A little over 12 months ago Maguire was hosing down suggestions Mbye could be on the move after his decision to drop him to the bench was superseded by Mbye copping an untimely injury.
Mbye has shifted from fullback to centre under Maguire's tenure but also trained at hooker throughout the off-season before Harry Grant's loan deal was locked in.
A shift to the Gold Coast could once more facilitate a move into the No.9 jumper with Nathan Peats coming off-contract this year and unlikely to be retained.
Having been through the upheaval of a sudden shift from Belmore in 2018, Mbye says he has gained perspective and "resilience" to draw upon when his future is under scrutiny.
"As a club and a team when you're not performing as good as you want to be, you're not in that top eight and you're earning good money, that comes with responsibility, it comes with expectations which is completely fair," Mbye said.
"I agree, it should come with those responsibilities. I think everyone looks at it differently, everyone has a different situation in life.
"If you're asking me personally, I think I've become resilient to the fact there's so much moving and shaking in the NRL. Go back through this season, what are we up to? Four coaches sacked?
"When coaches come different players come and other players leave. I think a lot of people are resilient to the fact that you don't know where you're going to finish."
Author
Dan Walsh
NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp
Mon 17 Aug 2020, 01:39 PM
Moses Mbye says he and Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire have reiterated his commitment to the club following interest from the Titans even though a volatile transfer market means players are "never really sure where you're going to end up".
As first reported by The Sydney Morning Herald last week, it's understood Mbye has been the subject of informal talks between the Tigers and Gold Coast about a potential move north next season.
The joint-venture is exploring how to ease salary cap pressure in a top-heavy roster ahead of 2021, though any move for Mbye hinges on how much the Tigers would be willing to chip in for his lucrative salary given he is contracted for the next two years.
It has been suggested the Tigers are open to paying up to half the freight on Mbye's estimated $800,000 wage to ease the club's tight salary cap, while the Gold Coast also have money to spend next year with several big earners moving on.
Mbye is known to have a close relationship with rookie Titans coach Justin Holbrook and his assistant Jim Dymock from their time together at Canterbury, while the Queensland Origin utility originally hails from Noosa as well.
By the same token Mbye says he and Maguire have an honest bond that saw the pair discuss his future as soon as it came under the spotlight.
Speaking for the first time on the matter, Mbye said his priority is to remain at the Tigers and continue the club's rebuild under Maguire, and that he had told his coach as much last week.
Our intention is certainly for me to be at the Tigers
"I had a yarn with him at training - nothing formal - Madge and myself, we have a really good relationship where we speak to each like mates," Mbye said after Sunday's last-gasp win over his former club Canterbury.
"We respect each other and we're honest with each other so we had a yarn about it.
"In terms of me leaving the club, I've got no desire to do that. I'm really enjoying my time at the Tigers.
"I did the mid-season move at the Bulldogs so I've already tried that. I'm enjoying my time here and my focus is here.
"The club's assured me - going off what Madge said to me - that they have the same intention.
"If anything changes, we know what it's like the game of rugby league, you don't know where you're going to end up. But our intention is certainly for me to be at the Tigers."
Mbye's future, both club and position-wise, has come under scrutiny since his signing from Canterbury by Ivan Cleary two years ago.
A little over 12 months ago Maguire was hosing down suggestions Mbye could be on the move after his decision to drop him to the bench was superseded by Mbye copping an untimely injury.
Mbye has shifted from fullback to centre under Maguire's tenure but also trained at hooker throughout the off-season before Harry Grant's loan deal was locked in.
A shift to the Gold Coast could once more facilitate a move into the No.9 jumper with Nathan Peats coming off-contract this year and unlikely to be retained.
Having been through the upheaval of a sudden shift from Belmore in 2018, Mbye says he has gained perspective and "resilience" to draw upon when his future is under scrutiny.
"As a club and a team when you're not performing as good as you want to be, you're not in that top eight and you're earning good money, that comes with responsibility, it comes with expectations which is completely fair," Mbye said.
"I agree, it should come with those responsibilities. I think everyone looks at it differently, everyone has a different situation in life.
"If you're asking me personally, I think I've become resilient to the fact there's so much moving and shaking in the NRL. Go back through this season, what are we up to? Four coaches sacked?
"When coaches come different players come and other players leave. I think a lot of people are resilient to the fact that you don't know where you're going to finish."
