A pre-existing relationship with Ryles from their time together at the Storm, coupled with the chance to play alongside Mitchell Moses, proved irresistible. Even if itโs only for 12 months.
โHaving conversations with Jason and Mitchell as well, I thought this was the best place for me to come and develop my game, but also really contribute,โ Pezet said.
โFor me to learn under him is unreal.โ
Jonah Pezet on playing alongside Mitchell Moses at Parramatta
Few playmakers have had to wait as long for their opportunity. In last yearโs qualifying final win against Canterbury, Pezet showed his class in setting up a try, scoring one, kicking a 40/20 and also booting goals. But as soon as the injured Hughes was fit the following week, Pezet was out.
โSome people would call it frustrating, but I donโt see it as a frustrating time in my life,โ he said.
โI really enjoyed being at Melbourne and doing my apprenticeship, earning my stripes to take the opportunity and contract thatโs in front of me.
โYou see a lot of young halves come into the game too early or thrown into the deep end, but I havenโt been put into that situation because of the club that I was at and the apprenticeship put in place.
Jonah Pezet and Harry Grant at the Storm in 2025.Credit: Getty Images
โI canโt be thankful enough to Jahrome and Cameron for the time and effort they put into me to help develop my game to where it is now.โ
The blue and golds secured Pezet to partner Moses following the departure of Dylan Brown to Newcastle. Pezet is excited about the combination they will form.
โItโs what I said before about development, he is one of the top halfbacks in the game,โ he said.
โFor me to learn under him is unreal. To take the field with him and learn on the run will be even better.
Jonah Pezet is ready to become a permanent NRL playmaker.
โI think Iโm ready for the opportunity thatโs in front of me, I just have to take it now.โ
Some Eels fans have questioned the wisdom of investing in a spine player, only to witness him join a rival 12 months later. However, Parramatta powerbrokers believe Pezet is the ideal bridging player until promising young playmakers Joash Papalii, Lincoln Fletcher, and Lorenzo Talataina are ready to step up.
โI guess thatโs how the club must have seen it,โ Pezet said.
โSeeing what some of those young kids have been doing – Joash has been outstanding at training since Iโve been back. He can play multiple positions so heโs been training unreal and heโs been good for me to learn off, he sees the game a bit differently.
โYoung Lincoln Fletcher is only 18 years of age and being a young schoolboys star, heโs a really good young player. Heโs got a steady head on his shoulders and hopefully he gets the opportunity that I had, to have a good apprenticeship. If he takes that, he will be a really good player as well.โ
In joining Parramatta, Pezet follows in the footsteps of father Troy, who made nine appearances for the club in 1998.
โItโs cool for me having him as my old boy โฆ heโs been the most influential person in my career so far, since I was a young fella,โ Pezet said.
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โHeโs put a lot of confidence in me to just go out and be myself, to continue to develop my game. Heโs never pushed me too hard, heโs been a good supporter and comes to all my games.
โHeโs not a critic or anything like that, heโs just a good supporter of where I want to take my footy.โ
As for replacing Reynolds at premiers Brisbane, Pezet said: โItโs a cool opportunity when it does come. For the club up there to see something in me is special, itโs a big club as well.
โMy sole focus at the moment is putting my best foot forward each day at Parra training, and hopefully, we can get as many wins as possible this season.โ
