Shake-up awaits if player agent Moses goes

Some of the NRL’s biggest stars will have the right to transfer management stables in one of the biggest agent shake ups in years if Isaac Moses is deregistered by the NRL.

The NRL this week provisionally cancelled Moses’ accreditation for allegedly prompting Tim Mannah to lie to the integrity unit in 2017.

The powerful player agent has already announced he will appeal the ban, with the manager still able to represent close-to 100 clients until that process is finalised.

It’s expected that process will take months with an independent committee to panel any hearing after years of investigations.

Moses looks after the affairs of some of the NRL’s biggest names, including Cameron Smith, John Bateman, David Klemmer, Aaron Woods, Josh Hodgson, Mitchell Moses, Anthony Seibold and Stephen Kearney.

There is no suggestion any of his clients are involved in any wrongdoing and the appeal process could be expected to take months.

If Moses is deregistered players would have the right to leave his Cove Agency.

Under the blanket terms of deals signed by players with all agency companies, one manager is named as their nominated agent.

If that agent is at any time deregistered by the NRL, players are able to terminate their contract with the management company and move elsewhere.

Moses’ brother Steve also works for Cove, meaning players could also still remain in the company and make one of them their nominated agents should they wish.

Brisbane captain Alex Glenn said on Wednesday he and several other Broncos managed by Moses were waiting on the outcome of an appeal before weighing up their futures.

Glenn said Moses had assured players they were in safe hands.

Players in Gavin Orr’s stable were faced with a similar situation in April, when he was deregistered by the NRL.

At the time players had to decide whether to move their dealings to another member of Pacific Sports Management – including his brother Chris – or move to another company.

Not all players have made the call yet in that case.

Regardless of players’ choices, it’s believed they will still owe Moses commission on contracts previously negotiated by him.

Moses has long been considered one of the dominant but decisive figures in the game.

The Wests Tigers felt the wrath of his power in 2017 when nephew Mitchell Moses, James Tedesco, Aaron Woods and Luke Brooks all came off contract at the same time.

Of the so-called big four, only Luke Brooks remained at the Tigers as the club fell out with the player manager.

Tedesco himself has since had high-profile issues with Moses following the agent’s split with football whisperer Joe Wehbe.

Another club at one stage made a deliberate attempt to avoid negotiating with his players.

Moses this week maintained his innocence over the Mannah affair, which relates to the Eels’ 2016 salary cap breaches.

“Cove Agency continues to deny all allegations made against Isaac Moses by the National Rugby League,” they said in a statement.

“We will be appealing the decision and reserve our rights to challenge any finding by the National Rugby League in a court of law.”

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