Kierran Moseley knew season 2015 was about learning what it takes to become a consistent NRL footballer.
And he will take newly acquired knowledge and experience into next season, hopefully with a better starting base than what he had 12 months earlier.
It’s fine to be regarded as a hot prospect, to be chosen for the Indigenous All Stars with just one NRL game on his repertoire and to have the success the 21-year-old from Cloncurry enjoyed in his two seasons at Penrith which brought him premierships in under-20s then the NSW Cup (reserve grade).
But with a frame of 87kg and a self-confessed need for more strength to handle the defensive rigours of a hooker in the middle of the ruck, Moseley quickly learned there is more required to become a consistent and dominant dummy half in the NRL.
“For me this season was all about learning about where I need to be to play consistently in the NRL,” said the Indigenous livewire who played 16 games and had to endure a seven-week absence through an ankle injury.
“I understand now more about the physical demands and even mentally being able to back up every week.
“It was a bit of a struggle at first and having that time out with the injury gave me a chance to give my body a break it probably needed. I know what is expected now and can take that into next season, and the confidence that I played a lot more games than I probably expected to.”
Moseley played 12 of the first 13 games of the season before injuring his ankle against the Bulldogs in round 14, returning in round 21 after a hit-out for Burleigh Bears.
His best performance was undoubtedly against the Warriors in Auckland when he scored his first NRL try from close range and threw a great short pass under pressure for a Kane Elgey try in the Titans’ 32-24 win.
His alertness out of dummy half had been impressive, but he wants to take on the defence more and that comes from confidence, something that he says was affected when he first returned from injury.
The Titans hookers aren’t renowned for taking on the defence extensively from dummy half with Moseley averaging 4.8 per game, Beau Falloon 3.9, Matt Srama 3.7 and Daniel Mortimer the highest at 6.7 (including games in the halves).
Moseley’s force and resilience in defence is the other aspect of his make-up he will concentrate on in 2016. He has worked hard with defensive coach Rohan Smith, who he had an association with while both at Penrith.
“I just feel I’m more equipped to start next season better than this year and I’m going work really hard to make sure I get the results of that,” said Moseley from Cloncurry where he is spending time with family and friends during the off-season.
Off the field the youngster has enjoyed embellishing himself in community events, particularly Indigenous welfare and in one day flew from Brisbane to his hometown and returned, a 14-hour shift, to lecture school students and this has been another medium for him to develop as an NRL player.
KIERRAN MOSELEY’S 2015 SEASON
Age: 21
Games: 16
Tries: 1
Avg. runs per game: 5
Avg. metres per game: 33
Avg. tackles: 30
Line breaks: 2
Career stats: Games – 17; tries – 1.
ONE THING HE’D LIKE TO IMPROVE IN 2016:
“To be a lot stronger and physically able to handle the grind of week to week first grade. I’ve already working on starting the pre-season in better shape and getting my gym levels up and put on a lot more muscle.”
NEXT: Ryan Simpkins