Jonah Pezet has signed with reigning premiers the Broncos to become Adam Reynolds’ replacement at halfback – but he won’t join the Brisbane club until 2027, with a one-season loan deal with the Eels happening first.
In one of the most convoluted signing deals we’ve seen in modern rugby league, Pezet has decided to leave the Melbourne Storm to take up simultaneous NRL contract agreements with Parramatta and Brisbane.
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The young gun halves star, who was pursued by the Broncos, Eels, Storm, as well as the Perth Bears and St George Illawarra Dragons, will play no.7 for Brisbane from 2027 alongside Ezra Mam in the halves. Craig Bellamy and Melbourne had tried hard to keep the 22-year-old, but he’s eager to prove himself in a starting role in the NRL as soon as possible.
And so, the Parramatta deal comes first. While the Broncos want to give Reynolds one more year at halfback, Pezet will learn his trade under Mitchell Moses (likely as five-eighth to Moses’ halfback) before he heads north.
While this may make sense for the eager Pezet, and certainly sounds like a sweet get for the premiers, considering Pezet will arrive at Red Hill with a year’s starting NRL experience under his belt, this Sporting Base writer believes it’s a poor plan for the Eels; any time spent on the 22-year-old they’ve just signed would be better spent on a future halves option.
Instead, the Eels now seem set to cook Brisbane’s future playmaker, letting him pick Moses’ brain for 12 months before he walks out the door, leaving Jason Ryles and Parramatta’s recruiters having to find another young gun to play.
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The idea may be to then play Dean Hawkins as the six or seven, but why not just play him now if that’s the case? Right now, there’s a cooldown clause the Eels may want to use to reconsider: The historic deal isn’t yet official for the Eels or Broncos – but it should be solidified quite soon. It’s unlikely they backflip, of course, with the club seemingly quite happy.
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Back at the Storm, this likely means Cameron Munster will see out his career in purple. With Pezet heading out the door, Munster and Jahrome Hughes make sense as the long-term halves partnership, especially if Bellamy leaves.
The Bears had been interested in signing Munster as a marquee pick-up, but that’s likely over now, too.
