Will Moses Mbye have to turn into the Tigers’ super sub?

A candid Moses Mbye said he is still baffled about what his best position is as he faces up to the reality of becoming the Wests Tigers’ super sub, a role he argues will be “really important” in the modern game.

Just days after summer recruit Daine Laurie sparkled at fullback in the Tigers’ trial thrashing of Manly, Mbye hinted he could reinvent his own game to suit Michael Maguire’s plans in a squad suddenly brimming with competition for spots.

Former Tigers skipper Moses Mbye.Credit:Getty Images

Mbye, 27, is trying to overcome a hamstring complaint to be fit for the Tigers’ season-opener against the Raiders, which will force Maguire to tinker with his line-up with first-choice five-eighth Adam Doueihi suspended.

It will be almost impossible for Maguire to leave Penrith recruit Laurie out of his round one team despite former captain Mbye spending the entire pre-season preparing to wear the No.1 jumper.

“We’re working a few things out at the minute and trying to see what fits best for our team,” Mbye said. “You watch those guys on the weekend, I feel like an older fella trying to match it with the younger fellas now.

“I’ve been trying to work out where I want to play and where I’m best suited for a large part of my career. I still haven’t worked it out.

‘I’ve had a really good pre-season, the best I’ve had in a long time. I feel fit and have got myself in really good shape.’

“Daine showed some really good form and we’re without Doueihi so I could possibly find myself at six [in round one] and going forward I could even find myself at 14 and making that my role. The game has changed a bit too and we don’t really know what we’re going to get with the rule changes.”

Mbye has primarily played at fullback and centre during his Tigers stint but has even been used at hooker, such is his versatility.

But it was his breakthrough in the State of Origin arena as a bench utility which could pave the way for a new phase of his NRL career, particularly with the forecast increased speed of the game this season.

“You never know until you get there, but I see it as a really important role,” Mbye said. “It’s hard to say [if I’ll be there]. Madge keeps his cards pretty close to his chest, but time will tell and we’ll find out then.

“To be honest I’ve had a really good pre-season, the best I’ve had in a long time. I feel fit and have got myself in really good shape.”

Mbye has missed the opening round in the last two years with minor injuries and still has a year to run on his lucrative deal with the Tigers after this season.

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