“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to play NRL every week. As a kid you grow up and that’s what you want to do." Gosford-born, now 22 year old, Jonah Pezet told The Queenslander last year.
This could be a make-or-break signing or a missed opportunity for the Ryles era. Pezet has divided some Eels fans, and there are plenty of “ifs” and moving balls. And until a signing is confirmed this is all hypothetical.
Cons & Threats
Two generals in one team? Too many cooks? Mitchell Moses is a dominant seven, and Pezet appears to want that role long-term, though he could compromise to play full-time NRL.
Pezet is a risk, for sure. All signings are. Maybe he’s not yet the superstar we’d pay him to be. He's still getting his body ready, after some significant injuries (another risk) for the gladitorial week-to-week grind of NRL. And also every young half goes through dark nights of the soul; even gets dropped. Sam Walker. Ash Taylor. Tim Smith. Next Big Things.
It’s an expensive risk. Beyond the Raiders, Pezet won’t be short of suitors. He’d likely be number three on the Eels’ salary cap after Moses and Junior Paulo. Number two not long after. (Refer Salary Cap Blog)
If it's really a loan deal, while waiting-on-Munster, we would be a pit stop of convenience, doing more service to the Storm than our club. How did the Harry Grant loan deal work for the Tigers? In that case, we should stick with Ryles’ “The Future is Now” philosophy developing project players like Joash Papali’i, Dean Hawkins, or Lorenzo.
Pros & Opportunities
Pezet could provide a short,mid, and long-term spine solution. The heir to Mitchell Moses. A spine that could grow together for the next 10 years plus, building around it.
In the short term, he could ease our over-reliance on Moses and his fitness, as has missed large Turbo-Ponga-esque chunks of games in recent seasons. This year, the Eels have a 54% win ration with Moses, 27% without.
Why couldn't Pezet play six for a while? He has 15 games at six, 20 at seven, and 15 off the bench at Cup and NRL levels. The Broncos won a grand final with a two-sevens in the halves (Reynolds-Hunt), while Storm have succeeded with three fullbacks and a Grant spine.
In 18 NRL games with the Storm, Pezet has scored two tries, kicked five from six goals, and maintained a win ratio of almost 85%.
He has also shown he’s team-centric. “I’m confident in my ability to play 80 minutes at halfback,” he said, but he’s willing to play six or off the bench. "What’s best for the team.”
And who better to mentor him than Moses? A win-win. Moses spent the first half of his career at six with the Tigers, and the second half at seven with the Eels. On the Sixes and Sevens podcast, Moses said he wished he had a senior seven to guide him.
Bottom Line
In the bold V'Landys Universe of Attack, Attack, Attack, we don't have the supreme x-factor talents like Reece Walsh or Payne-Haas tanks through the middle to compete in a gunslinging, power shoot-out. We'll need to continue to build resilient systems with some creative enterprise. Winning on guts and pressure and nuance. A strong kicking game will be critical. Pezet provides added points of attack and opportunities, reducing pressure on Moses. His utility value to play both six or seven or off the bench is a plus, not a negative.
In the end, Jonah Pezet could be a luxury we can’t afford or the cornerstone we can’t afford to miss. The Ryles era is just getting started and this decision could define it. Will history remember it as bold brilliance or a missed opportunity, a Waterloo moment?
Source of Johah Pezet quotes: The Queenslander
Related blogs: Salary Cap , Where Do We Fit in the New Era?
Replies
He will be a cornerstone moment, similar to signing Mitch Moses. I wrote a blog back in July. "Can the Eels land Jonah Pezet".
I havnt changed my opinion. All class and a real half, that will change the way we run the team. Teams will not be able to double team Mitch and Jonah. Both can play halfback, both can play 5/8 roles, they can interchange , pop up everywhere and both can kick.
I'd love the signing. Bring it on. Make it happen Recruitment team.
Oh, damn, mate. You're right, Bluey. Apologies mate if I've covered well-trodden ground. I just wrote this on the spur of the moment.
No , no that's not what i meant at all. More the merrier, I'm a real fan of the kid and was pointing it out for a while. Hahahaha I'm all in on the kid.
Jesus Bluey, no need to get so upset with HOE, he didn't know you'd already covered this off...... it's just an innocent blog on the run bro. I'm sure HOE is sorry ...
Hahaha, Wiz. You crack me up way too often. Spot on though. I confess. I repent. I bend the knee. Luckily, Bluey’s a champion bloke. Not called Bluey for nothin’. Honestly, I’ve lost track of most of my transgressions…it’s a long list.
hahahahahahaha.
🤞this is true. Iongi - Pezet - Moses - Smith spine.. Looks good to me..
That's the dream. A ten year spine that can grow together and build a team around. Making it happen is the challenge.
TDS will come good at hooker too, so that is one skillful spine we can lock in for the next 5-8 years and build the rest of the team around them. I can see Ryles being a 10 year coach at Parra with this spine.
Pezet is an option I'd go for at the right price. I don't think he needs to concern himself with being the dominant half right now. Moses was 25/26 when he got the 7 jersey full time. Another 3-4 years would be virtually the end of Moses' career and would give Pezet time to become a consistent first grader, but also let the Eels know if they have the right player or not.
But the right price is most important here. Good halves aren't cheap and in Pezet's case we're paying on potential which can bite you in the arse. On the flip side he's not a teenager. We'd be signing him with more experience at the same age as when we got Iongi.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 7 Next