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
Anyone on this site clarify something for me?
Ryles said 'it wasn't planned' which part is he talking about? Is it the part chasing after Pezet, even though he knew Hawkins was going to super league? So he was happy to let Hawkins leave and not chase a 5/8 or 7? I call BS.
There's so many contradictions in this story I doubt we will ever know the truth. The people trying to justify it are tying themselves up in knots in the same way with their explanations. For mine, this makes no sense and I'm not sure why we did it but here we are.
Pezet in my opinion would prefer to play 7. Hes played there all his jnrs and in the Melbourne systems, so if Pezet is the 5/8 you're talking about, he may have never wanted to play 6
Hawkins, I don't see a problem letting him go. What's our winning percentage when he was in the 7 jersey, Maybe 25%
Hawkins has played 18 nrl games at halfback and won 5. So why are there so many Hawkins lovers on here saying we should have kept him
As the storm have showed, their players are willing to wait for a shot and turn down offers to stay at storm. If Joash or the younger players don't like the Pezet situation they can leave. If they stay and develop they will get their shot late next year or 2027 and be better for it just like the storm development system.
Pezet and Fa'alogo could have played regular NRL years ago and had offers to do so. They waited and developed in reserves playing the odd game in NRL and will be better for it. Obviously Pezet is leaving now after long term contract to Hughes but he has developed well and is more likely to play more NRL at eels then Melbourne whi have Wishart as first choice back up.
More young players ruin their career debuting early then starting a year or 2 late. Thinking about it like that, it will show if Joash and younger players are committed to Parra or happy to chase a pay cheque for an earlier debut. How did that work out for Ethan Sanders?
Just shows Ryles is not a straight shooter as everyone says, just a bullshit artist like the rest covering all his lies. As for footy dean leaving everyone new of Pezet's signing before footy dean leaving. Pezet offers les than Joash, he's not experience so he doesn't help Joash or any of the juniors just more bull from the coach. Yes I watched Pezet play and except for a couple of things in his last game that was ok he has been a lot worse than Joash and IMO not even NRL standard the rest of his games.
I'll trust Ryles' instincts on this. He's been right about a lot so far.
Everything is temporary in life, be that Pezet or our lives, and most things are uncontrollable. That's not an excuse to keep trying, fighting, improving, doing our best and being better: the only things we can control.
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