Storm, Eels, Broncos: Every major domino that could fall from Jonah Pezet’s bombshell deal
Rising Storm gun Jonah Pezet’s imminent move to Parramatta and then Brisbane is set to trigger a dramatic chain reaction that will affect multiple stars at three of the NRL’s biggest clubs.
Jonah Pezet’s imminent move to Parramatta and then Brisbane is set to have major ramifications for three of the biggest clubs in the game.
Brent Read and Travis Meyn take a look at how the 22-year-old’s future is set to impact the three clubs at the centre of the biggest off-season move in the player market so far.
MELBOURNE STORM
The Storm are coming off a grand final appearance but something was always going to give over the off-season given the amount of balls they were juggling in their roster.
Pezet’s future has been a slow burn. He was at risk of leaving from the moment the club announced that Jahrome Hughes had signed a new deal in the lead-up to the finals.
Pezet, contracted until the end of 2029, had a clause in his deal which meant he could go to the open market. He informed the club that he would do just that after their 26-22 grand final loss to Brisbane.
His departure means that Perth’s hopes of landing Cameron Munster are likely gone. The Storm can’t afford to let Munster, 31, depart now and they may yet move to extend his deal beyond 2027.
In turn, that could have repercussions for Ryan Papenhuyzen and Sua Fa’alogo. Papenhuyzen, 27, has another year on his contract but there was talk that he could be let go early to make a switch to rugby union.
Munster was a candidate to move to fullback had Pezet stayed. With Munster set to remain in the No.6 jersey, the Storm may be reluctant to let Papenhuyzen go.
Alternatively, the Storm may put their hopes in Fa’alogo, meaning he faces a crucial preseason in his development.
At 22, he has three years remaining on his Storm deal, but only made seven NRL appearances last season, all on the wing.
The other significant impact for the Storm is on their salary cap. Their cap was tight but Pezet’s departure – so soon after Nelson Asofa-Solomona was released – frees up some space.
It may not necessarily mean they enter the market but they have some comfort now.
PARRAMATTA EELS
The Eels have made some smart moves under coach Jason Ryles and this may be another.
While some may question the decision to give Pezet a short-term deal – many supporters voiced their concerns about the potential ramifications after this masthead revealed the plan – there are clear positives for the Eels.
For starters, it means they have a ready-made partner for Mitchell Moses in the halves, who gives them a better chance to win next season.
On paper, Pezet and Moses will form one of the classiest halves pairings in the NRL.
The question mark is what it means for Joash Papalii, the 21-year-old who was meant to have the first opportunity to wear the No.6 jersey vacated by Newcastle-bound five-eighth Dylan Brown in 2026.
In Papalii’s two seasons in reserve grade at Canterbury, he was used exclusively at fullback, and could play a utility role off the bench for the Eels in 2026 in the hope of earning a contract extension beyond next season.
PARRAMATTA ROSETR ANALYSIS: Roadblock in phase 2 of Ryles’ rebuild
Acquiring Pezet also buys the Eels 12 months to allow their young halves time to develop.
Parramatta have two of the most promising playmakers in rugby league in Lorenzo Talataina and Lincoln Fletcher, who are locked in until the end of 2028 and 2027 respectively. The pair led Parramatta to this year’s SG Ball grand final and, by season’s end, Talataina had made his NSW Cup debut.
At some point, all three will be ready for first grade. Rather than throw them to the wolves, they will now have time to hone their craft.
Pezet will come to the club and hold the fort until they are ready to take over in 2027. So in effect, Ryles has given the club a great chance to win next season and helped ease the pressure on their emerging stars.
BRISBANE BRONCOS
Pezet’s arrival at Red Hill is set to throw the futures of nine Broncos players into the spotlight.
He has been signed with the view to succeeding halfback Adam Reynolds, 35, who is expected to retire at the end of 2026.
Grand final five-eighth Ben Hunt, 35, hasn’t ruled out playing on in 2027 and was a chance to take over the No.7 duties from Reynolds, but that could now change.
Emerging playmakers Coby Black and Tom Duffy are set to be fighting for their futures in Brisbane. Black has long been touted as Brisbane’s next halfback, but the signing of Pezet suggests the 19-year-old may not be developing as quickly as hoped.
Duffy is on a one-year trial with the Broncos in 2026 after leaving North Queensland and needs a big season to prove himself.
Billy Walters played a crucial role for Brisbane this season and is off-contract at the end of next year. Is the 31-year-old’s future in the halves or hooker?
If the latter, that would put Blake Mozer and Cory Paix under threat, especially if Hunt wants to play on and finds himself in the No.9.
Back-up playmaker Josh Rogers will fall down the pecking order of halves while Michael Maguire must decide how to best use grand final bench weapon Ezra Mam moving forward.
Either way, this is a huge signing for the Broncos if Pezet delivers on his promise and could set the Broncos up for long-term success with a red-hot spine including Reece Walsh at fullback.
Originally published as Storm, Eels, Broncos: Every major domino that could fall from Jonah Pezet’s bombshell deal
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