NRL: Moimoi re-signs with Eels

SYDNEY - Kiwis prop Fuifui Moimoi has ended speculation surrounding his National Rugby League (NRL) future by confirming a two-year contract extension at Parramatta.

Moimoi formalised a verbal agreement to stay at last year's beaten grand finalists today, a significant boost for a club struggling to rediscover the form that propelled them to the 2009 decider.

The Tongan-born 31-year-old, who has played eight tests for New Zealand, will be at the Eels through to the end of the 2012 season.

His retention helps offset the loss of former New Zealand captain and Parramatta stalwart Nathan Cayless, who retires at the end of the season.

"I'm very happy to be staying with the Eels, it's a good club and it's good to stay with my mates," said Moimoi, who is in contention for the Kiwis lineup for next month's Anzac test in Melbourne.

"I'd still love to get a premiership here with the club and these players and that's part of the reason I wanted to stay an Eel."

Eels chief executive Paul Osborne was delighted Moimoi stayed loyal to the club where he made his NRL debut in 2004.

"He is a very valuable and respected part of our club and both he and the club always expected he will play out his career with the Eels where a lot of work, mostly by Fui himself, has seen him develop into a prop rated among the world's best last year."

Cayless had previously spoken about how imperative it was to re-sign Moimoi.

"He's been enormous for us over the last few years and is getting better and better as he gets older," Cayless said last month.

Moimoi's contract extension shores up an Eels roster already bolstered last month by the re-signing of five-eighth Daniel Mortimer and wing Luke Burt to multi-year deals.

Star fullback/wing Jarryd Hayne committed to a A$2 million ($2.62 million), four-year contract in December.

- NZPA