Wests Tigers skipper Moses Mbye wants the best players possible at the club in 2020, and said if he was in charge he’d keep chasing Latrell Mitchell as well as Matt Moylan.
After submitting and then rescinding an offer to Sydney Roosters centre Mitchell, the Tigers have left the door open to re-enter negotiations for the upcoming NRL season.
However, the club is also believed to have made enquiries about the availability of Cronulla fullback Moylan after negotiations with Mitchell stalled.
Injury limited Moylan to just 11 NRL games last season and although he is contracted to the Sharks for another two years, he has been linked to the Tigers for several months.
For Mbye, either player would be a huge addition to the team who finished ninth in 2019, missing the finals for the eighth season in a row.
“Obviously they’re both really quality players, there’s no doubting that,” Mbye said on Wednesday.
“I don’t think anyone would argue with that. If they’re available and we can get them, I don’t see why you wouldn’t.
“If I was running the team I’d be doing the same thing.”
Breaking the finals drought is a huge motivator for the Tigers leading into 2020 following their close call last year.
A win against Cronulla in round 25 would have assured the Tigers a place in the finals; instead they were beaten 25-8 at Leichhardt Oval to crash out in ninth place on the ladder.
Moses said the addition of Mitchell in particular would give the Tigers strike in the backline, and provide another goal kicking option after Esan Marsters’ exit to North Queensland.
“I know he’s only young but in saying that he brings a hell of a lot of experience too. He’s won two premierships and played a handful of games for his country and his state, and also his Indigenous heritage,” Mbye said of Mitchell.
“He’s got a lot of experience in big games and a lot of experience in a strong cultured team and club. “