A change turned out to be as good as a holiday for Mitchell Moses as he piloted Parramatta to a 22-16 win on Friday night over South Sydney.
Just two games into his Eels' career, Moses had a hand in two of Parramatta's tries and looked dangerous every time he touched the ball at ANZ Stadium.
It was a far cry from his performance against the Rabbitohs a fortnight ago at the same ground, but in a different jersey.
On that occasion, Fox Sports Stats showed he failed to run the ball once in 28 possessions, as the Wests Tigers decided there was no value in keeping him for the rest of the season and granted him an early release.
But on Friday night, he couldn't be accused of lacking interest or involvement, while playing at halfback.
He took the line on in the sixth minute for Tepai Moeroa to score, while his combination with five-eighth Clinton Gutherson also improved as the Eels' No.6 also set up two tries in an 18-0 first half.
And, Eels coach Brad Arthur said he only expected his playmakers to get better as they became accustomed to Moses' style.
"He's going to need a bit of time to get better," Arthur said.
"It's not only him. It's our boys getting used to what his strengths are and what he likes to play.
"He plays very fast into the line so we've got to play a touch flatter on him."
Moses struggled with a hip knock in the second half, and his impact showed as the Eels' attack stuttered without him having as many touches.
But he still managed to inject himself when he ran the ball on the last in the 63rd minute, helping an airborne Josh Hoffman over in the corner just as Souths threatened to mount a comeback.
Souths coach Michael Maguire refused to blame a five-day turnaround from a match in Perth for their lacklustre first half.
"It's got nothing to do with short turnarounds," he said.
"People go to Origin and play two days later - that's a poor excuse.
"I don't wear that."
The loss was their eighth in nine years in the week immediately following the annual WA trip, while Cody Walker struggled at fullback after shifting earlier this month from five-eighth.
It took until the 49th minute for the Rabbitohs to score when Angus Chrichton went the length of the field, while a late Alex Johnston double flattered the scoreline.
But Arthur was unhappy with the last of them, after the bunker failed to overturn a put down from a kick that Johnson had appeared to bounce.
"I seen it on the screen and, to me, it didn't look like a try," Arthur said.
"It's pretty important we get those right."
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