Parramatta coach Jason Ryles has described the signing of Jonah Pezet on a one-year deal as the “perfect storm”, an arrangement he believes will benefit all parties. The Eels on Wednesday officially announced they had secured Pezet for 2026, before he joins Brisbane the following year on a long-term deal to replace veteran halfback Adam Reynolds. Pezet, stuck behind the established Melbourne halves pairing of Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes, became a free agent after the latter signed a contract extension.
Parramatta’s decision to sign Pezet for only one season has divided blue-and-gold fans, with some believing they are developing a player for another club’s benefit.
Speaking for the first time about the unusual situation – that will result in Pezet playing for three clubs in as many years – Ryles said he felt it was a positive outcome for all parties.
“It just happened through circumstance really; he made himself a free agent and we saw a bit of a gap there with our depth,” Ryles said on Wednesday.
“[Back-up halfback] Dean Hawkins had made it pretty clear that he was keen to potentially move on if he could do something bigger and better, and we understood that. It was a bit of a perfect storm in that regard. That’s how it all happened, it wasn’t planned or perfect, but it ended up like that. Everyone benefits out of it.”
Ryles has a strong relationship with Pezet from their time together at the Storm and the pair were keen to reunite.
“I get on with everyone, obviously, but there’s one or two you always sort of gravitate to,” Ryles explained. “For whatever reason we did, and we just have that relationship there. We spoke in and around it, never thinking that anything like this would ever come up, and I wouldn’t do that to the Storm either. It was more just we had that relationship.”
Pezet has made only 18 NRL appearances since making his debut three years ago, but will get the chance to add to that tally alongside halves partner Mitchell Moses.
“He’s done a lot of hours of training and he spent a lot of time on the field and in [State] Cup, and had those [NRL] games as well,” Ryles said.
“His kicking game is one of his strengths and he’s a really good organiser. He understands the game and will compliment Mitchell really well. Joash [Papalii] is going to learn a lot off him and hopefully we can develop them both together. Jonah will benefit from Mitchell and Joash will benefit from Mitchell. We’ll just let them fight it out in the preseason.”
Parramatta have some of the best junior halves in the game already in their system. Lincoln Fletcher and Lorenzo Talataina are earmarked as likely successors to Pezet, but the club also has Talen Risati and Te Hurinui Twidle as options.
“It benefits everyone and it benefits the guys coming through,” Ryles said.
“The pathway that Jonah has chosen to take is a pretty good way to do it. He’s taken his time and making sure he gets the reps in because it’s a hard position to play, especially at NRL level, both physically and mentally. He’s given himself plenty of time to develop it and then this is just another part of his journey.”
Asked about the prospects of Fletcher and Talataina, Ryles said: “They’re obviously good young talents. They got us to the final of SG Ball, there’s no fluke in that, they were a big influence on that. They’ve got a long way to go in regards to seeing if they can make the NRL, but they’re certainly giving themselves every opportunity. It’s just going to be good for their development.
“I’m not going to say [their progression] is going to be a black-and-white strategy for us, but ideally we want to maximise what we’ve got in our pathways for us. This allowed us to do it, we want to continue to do that wherever we can.”
Ryles recently returned from a study tour of the UK alongside chairman Matthew Beach, CEO Jim Sarantinos and general manager of football Mark O’Neill. Highlights included spending time at EPL clubs Chelsea and Manchester United and rugby clubs Saracens and Bath.
“Obviously everyone does the PD [personal development] tours at the end of the year and everyone gets little bits out of them,” Ryles said.
“We got gold nuggets for us, but I reckon the most beneficial thing was [the four Eels officials] got to spend a week together. We got to do a little bit of planning for the club for the future and obviously get to know each other a little bit better. Whilst the PD was really good and high level, that was just as beneficial.”
Replies
This.......exactly this
If Ryles was a qualified hypnotist, specializing in regression therapy, maybe...
But Pezet had a get-out-of-Storm PO clause if Hughes, their half, resigned long-term. He did. So, why would he wait 4 years behind Moses? He wants to be a seven. Broncos can offer that. We can't.
Hence, no bona-fide contract was ever on the table. Ryles knew it. The Club knew it. We say we want a smart R&R. But why then, would we want them wasting time on things that are pie in the sky?
I like the last bit that the off the field is bonding and having a look at how others work.
Only thing I dislike about the Pezet move is we are helping the premiership winners get better I hate that they don't need our help especially now the mentioned is basically getting the armchair ride here.
Just got to hope our juniors are the real deal regardless we are back to square one next year.
Remember when Ryles said, "The Future is now" and sat Dylan Brown out because he was leaving at the end of the year, to give Papalii game time? Isn't this just history repeating itself?
So you want Joash to play halfback if Moses goes down?? How many games would we win ???
I don't think you understand the situation mutts
Moses will at the very least miss a half a dozen games around origin time, just through rest or playing. Great move by Ryles
Yep absolutely. Half a dozen games missed for an Origin player is normal, especially a player over 30
What about in 27 we still have no one 😂 it repeats itself the same situation then what Pezet gets the benefit Brisbane gets the benefit Parra gets ?
If it pans out that old mate is really fighting it out with Joash in the pre season and has not simply been slotted in as Moses's partner in FG, and we didn't pay too much for a player with 18 games, then I can live with it.
$350k
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