State of Origin U19 Blues teen Jonah Pezet, son of NRL gun Troy Pezet, making mark

Growing up this young Blues supporter didn’t have a lot to cheer about come State of Origin each year. Now he’s got a chance to be part of a new generation of success.

Jonah Pezet had his hand on a football before he could walk.

Jonah Pezet alway wanted to be a rugby league player like his dad and now he is.

Pezet has also always wanted to play State of Origin and while that might be a few years down the track, the teenager will get his first taste of NSW and Queensland hostilities with the NSW U19s squad heading out to tackle their Maroon counterparts at Leichhardt Oval on Thursday.

The son of former Parramatta and South Queensland Crushers halfback Troy Pezet, the 19-year-old said there was never any doubt in his mind he would pursue a career in the game and is now tied in with the Melbourne Storm after playing his junior rugby league with the Newcastle Knights.

Young U19 Blues player Jonah Pezet grew up wanting to be a rugby league player. Pic: Supplied

“Dad got me into footy at around four or five with the Valentine Devils in the Newcastle comp and then Harold Matts with the Knights,” said Pezet, who went to school at Toukley and Gosford on the Central Coast before moving to Newcastle and now Melbourne.

“I was too young to watch him play but he always played with me in the park, kicking the footy around with me and my mates.’’

Pezet moved from Newcastle to Storm in 2020 and now has a contract extension with the highly successful NRL club until 2023.

“It’s a real family culture down there, we don’t have a mum’s and dad’s around so we’re pretty close,” he said.

Troy Pezet, who also played for Wyong rugby league, with son Jonah when 16 months old.

The young halfback said he loves the camaraderie, mateship and teamwork of rugby league.

It’s why he’s putting everything into his preparations for Thursday’s U19 match against the best young players from Queensland.

“I don’t have great memories coming through. Queensland was always dominating,” said Pezet, who growing up witnessed Queensland win back-to-back State of Origin titles between 2005 and 2013 and then another three in a row between 2015 and 2017.

“It’s really special to pull on the NSW jersey to play Queensland,’’ he said.

“It means a whole heap to play Queensland.

“The pinnacle is Origin and it's a massive goal for me in the future.’’

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