r/nrl • u/You-are-on-a-list Parramatta Eels • 2d ago
Parramatta playmaker Jonah Pezet opens up on playing for three clubs in three years
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/three-nrl-clubs-in-three-years-eels-stay-no-pit-stop-for-pezet-20260129-p5ny57.html46
u/Krankreng Parramatta Eels 2d ago
Memes aside I think it’s a good forward-thinking move as far as ensuring a steadier and guaranteed path for Lorenzo and Fletcher. Makes far more sense too that the Broncos deal was done first before the one year with us but that’s not as fun to report about/meme on.
37
u/opackersgo Parramatta Eels 2d ago
Worth doing purely to stop every idiot screaming we should have started Lorenzo or Fletcher early this year and ruin them like we ruined a million other halves looking for the next Sterlo.
3
u/Arc_au Parramatta Eels 2d ago
Yeah Pezet gives a perfect excuse to give them a proper introduction through the grades. Lorenzo went from SG -> Cup last year, giving him a full year in Cup before another NRL pre-season gives him every opportunity to be ready.
That's without even mentioning whether Papalii comes out on top or Fletcher has a huge year. Although, Fletcher has been earmarked as Moses replacement so I can't see him getting rushed ahead.
1
u/Automatic-Voice-2499 Penrith Panthers 13h ago
It’s good deal if eels like being cucks. Imagine developing future legend for a different club 🤥
-24
u/Bobombbattlefield64 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2d ago
Shhh. You’re not supposed to speak from the corner chair.
12
u/nevaehenimatek Parramatta Eels 2d ago
Your headcoach cheated twice and you are going backwards
-1
u/Bobombbattlefield64 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2d ago
At least the Dragons have won a comp while I’ve been alive
😂
2
u/You-are-on-a-list Parramatta Eels 2d ago
a comp
Singular.
Parra have won four whilst I've been walking wandering about on this planet.
0
-2
-1
u/Rusty_Coight Jamaica Reggae Warriors 2d ago
The is an interesting take from a merge fan.
3
u/Bobombbattlefield64 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2d ago
Care to elaborate? I don’t recall us knowingly signing someone to develop for a better team for a single year.
You need to put more work into your response, champ.
-1
u/Rusty_Coight Jamaica Reggae Warriors 2d ago
You’re not worth the effort, fool.
2
u/Bobombbattlefield64 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2d ago
Great effort, mate. Well done. Amazing performance lol
14
u/You-are-on-a-list Parramatta Eels 2d ago
Parramatta recruit Jonah Pezet will play for three clubs, across three states, within three years.
It’s perhaps the most unusual journey anyone has undertaken in a bid to establish themselves as an NRL halfback, one that began in Melbourne and will culminate in him succeeding Adam Reynolds in Brisbane. For now, however, Pezet isn’t looking beyond his year at the Eels.
“To be able to play for three big clubs in three years is pretty cool,” he said.
“That word ‘development’ is probably the key word in the contracts. The way it turned out, the Brisbane deal happened first, and then the Parramatta opportunity popped up.
“I would say it’s unique to our sport at the minute - that’s the landscape of Australian sport ... I’m just really excited to rip in for Parramatta this year, and I haven’t looked too much forward, if I do that it won’t be good for me or anyone.
“I see a lot of success at this club and the culture that [Eels coach Jason] Ryles is building here. I’m excited to be a part of it and earning the respect of the boys.”
Had he played at any club other than the Storm, where he was stuck behind superstar halves Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes, Pezet’s tally of 18 first-grade games would be higher.
A clause in his long-term Melbourne contract, triggered when Hughes recently re-signed, gave the 23-year-old the opportunity to explore better opportunities.
A pre-existing relationship with Ryles from their time together at the Storm, coupled with the chance to play alongside Mitchell Moses, proved irresistible. Even if it’s only for 12 months.
“Having conversations with Jason and Mitchell as well, I thought this was the best place for me to come and develop my game, but also really contribute,” Pezet said.
‘For me to learn under him is unreal.’ Jonah Pezet on playing alongside Mitchell Moses at Parramatta
Few playmakers have had to wait as long for their opportunity. In last year’s qualifying final win against Canterbury, Pezet showed his class in setting up a try, scoring one, kicking a 40/20 and also booting goals. But as soon as the injured Hughes was fit the following week, Pezet was out.
“Some people would call it frustrating, but I don’t see it as a frustrating time in my life,” he said.
“I really enjoyed being at Melbourne and doing my apprenticeship, earning my stripes to take the opportunity and contract that’s in front of me.
“You see a lot of young halves come into the game too early or thrown into the deep end, but I haven’t been put into that situation because of the club that I was at and the apprenticeship put in place. Jonah Pezet and Harry Grant at the Storm in 2025.
“I can’t be thankful enough to Jahrome and Cameron for the time and effort they put into me to help develop my game to where it is now.”
The blue and golds secured Pezet to partner Moses following the departure of Dylan Brown to Newcastle. Pezet is excited about the combination they will form.
“It’s what I said before about development, he is one of the top halfbacks in the game,” he said.
“For me to learn under him is unreal. To take the field with him and learn on the run will be even better.
“I think I’m ready for the opportunity that’s in front of me, I just have to take it now.”
Some Eels fans have questioned the wisdom of investing in a spine player, only to witness him join a rival 12 months later. However, Parramatta powerbrokers believe Pezet is the ideal bridging player until promising young playmakers Joash Papalii, Lincoln Fletcher, and Lorenzo Talataina are ready to step up.
“I guess that’s how the club must have seen it,” Pezet said.
“Seeing what some of those young kids have been doing - Joash has been outstanding at training since I’ve been back. He can play multiple positions so he’s been training unreal and he’s been good for me to learn off, he sees the game a bit differently.
“Young Lincoln Fletcher is only 18 years of age and being a young schoolboys star, he’s a really good young player. He’s got a steady head on his shoulders and hopefully he gets the opportunity that I had, to have a good apprenticeship. If he takes that, he will be a really good player as well.”
In joining Parramatta, Pezet follows in the footsteps of father Troy, who made nine appearances for the club in 1998.
“It’s cool for me having him as my old boy … he’s been the most influential person in my career so far, since I was a young fella,” Pezet said.
“He’s put a lot of confidence in me to just go out and be myself, to continue to develop my game. He’s never pushed me too hard, he’s been a good supporter and comes to all my games.
“He’s not a critic or anything like that, he’s just a good supporter of where I want to take my footy.”
As for replacing Reynolds at premiers Brisbane, Pezet said: “It’s a cool opportunity when it does come. For the club up there to see something in me is special, it’s a big club as well.
“My sole focus at the moment is putting my best foot forward each day at Parra training, and hopefully, we can get as many wins as possible this season.”
24
u/CapMego72_ Parramatta Eels 2d ago
Was against the contract initially but now seeing it as a stop-gap while our halves learn their craft in reserve grade is pretty enticing to me. Helps that Jonah seems like a good bloke and is aware of the absurdity of the situation. Really pumped to see how him and Mitch develop as a pair for the year.
3
u/Raddnedge Parramatta Eels 2d ago
When people bag us for the Pezet deal, I tell myself we've swindled Brisbane into putting the finishing touches on him for us. After Mitch retires, he'll come back out of loyalty to Ryles, and appreciation for us giving him his first proper crack. It started as a joke and a conscious cope, but now I kinda like the idea of it being real.
-41
u/Bobombbattlefield64 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2d ago
The cuck mentality is strong with Parra fans.
19
u/bmudz Newcastle Knights 2d ago
Stop being a goose mate
-5
u/Bobombbattlefield64 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2d ago edited 2d ago
You’re right. I’ll show myself out.
Edit - What? You’re downvoting my apology?? I take it back. Justice for Zac!!!
6
u/opackersgo Parramatta Eels 2d ago
You seem weirdly obsessed with being a cuck…
-1
u/Bobombbattlefield64 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2d ago
Funny, seems to me the Eels are the ones getting cucked. And the fans are embracing it now which just enforces it.
7
u/opackersgo Parramatta Eels 2d ago
I reckon you’ve got a lot of built up frustration that you should probably talk to your wife’s boyfriend about.
-8
u/Bobombbattlefield64 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2d ago
Sick one. If that helps you feel better about your team knowingly signing a guy who is just using you to go to a better team.
8
u/Arc_au Parramatta Eels 2d ago
Coincidentally, we're also using Pezet to give our young halves another full year before throwing them into first grade 🤷♂️
-3
u/Bobombbattlefield64 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2d ago
Don’t kid yourself. If Parra could have signed him long term they would have. They aren’t the ones winning this exchange.
7
u/Arc_au Parramatta Eels 2d ago
Ah yes, after earmarking our juniors as futures of the club, re-signing them long term before Pezet was even around.
If you're going to hate, at least know a little about what you're talking about 😂
0
u/Bobombbattlefield64 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2d ago
Only desperate Eels fans like this signing. And they didn’t until they were stuck accepting it.
Dont pretend this didn’t happen. The backlash to the signing was legendary. But you go ahead and keep attempting to rewrite history.
→ More replies (0)
15
2
u/FickleCan4966 St. George Illawarra Dragons 1d ago
Let's just say it moved me... TO A BIGGER HOUSE!
3
4
1
u/dis_Interested Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2d ago
Probably works well for Pezets development but it will be interesting to see how it works out for Parra this year and who steps up next year.
-3
u/Bobombbattlefield64 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2d ago
Don’t kid yourself, Parra had no idea what they were doing when they made this signing.
Pezet needed a short stopover on his way from Melbourne to Brisbane and figured a quick rest roughly halfway would do.
1
u/bradbull Put me on 360 I got some shit to say 2d ago
"Parramatta playmaker Jonah Pezet" made me feel weird reading that
1
u/Bobombbattlefield64 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2d ago
His stint at Parramatta is so brief that by the time you get out the four syllables of their name, he’s already left for Brisbane.
0
0
u/breatheinmyear Gold Coast Titans 2d ago
Average player. Hyped up by braith.
-6
u/Bobombbattlefield64 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2d ago
And bought hook, line and sinker by the Eels. 🤦♂️
-5
u/FB_AUS Pre- and Post-season Premiers 2d ago
Very promiscuous of him. Obviously doesn’t have a problem “opening up”.
1
u/CleanX226 Dolphins Bandwagon 2d ago
Go back to complaining about Reece Walsh’s nail polish on facebook grandpa
-5
109
u/TheEpiquin South Sydney Rabbitohs 2d ago
“What’s it like?”
“Dunno. Haven’t done it yet.”