Eels halfback Mitchell Moses said he tried to push his foot to return a week early in a last-ditch effort to secure selection for Origin I.
Moses was among the frontrunners to wear the No.7, but was unable to return for the Eels before the team was named on Sunday. Nicho Hynes and Jarome Luai were named in the halves.
Speaking to Nine after the Eels’ big win over the Sharks on Thursday night, Moses said he “tried his backside off” to be right for last week against the Rabbitohs.
“But I just didn’t pull up right,” he said.
“I know myself, I gave it every chance to come back and try to be there, but I fell short.
“I’ve just got to play good footy here and see what happens. My full focus now is for Parramatta.”
Mitchell Moses in action for the Eels. Getty
Against the Sharks on Thursday night, Moses put on a clinic. Blues legend and rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns floated the idea of Moses being “parachuted” into the side should Hynes not recover from his own calf niggle.
But given Luke Keary was selected in the extended squad for that reason, NSWRL confirmed Moses was no chance.
Moses said he would certainly be open to wearing the Blues jersey later in the series, but was aware the Eels needed to be winning games before he came into consideration.
“If we’re not winning games here, that stuff doesn’t come around. So we’ve got to keep winning here and that stuff will sort itself out.”
Elsewhere, Moses said Maguire’s game one team was “unbelievable”, and backed Hynes to “do the jersey proud”.