Did Saruman Believe He Could Master The One Ring?

[Raynor]

here was the guy that called Treebeard the oldest creature that was on the earth

I don't think that's a settled issue.

the man who wanted Gimli (who had never been in Moria before) to help him navigate through the Mines.

I wouldn't say that's over the top. As Gimli states in The ring goes south, the images of Moria were set in many images of metal and stone, and in many songs and tales.