For a player with 18 premiership matches to his name, Jonah Pezet is about to make a number of dominoes fall in the NRL world.
His reported deal with the Eels for 2026 and Broncos after it will have major ramifications across the competition with a number of players set to be impacted.
Throw in the fact it’s a never-before-seen contract, and Pezet could become a trendsetter.
Among the parties set to be impacted are the obvious ones in Melbourne, the Broncos and Eels but then there’s the Perth Bears and Brisbane young gun Coby Black.
What happens to Brisbane’s roster?
It’s an intriguing play from the Broncos.
Both Ben Hunt’s and Adam Reynolds’ contracts run out at the end of 2026 and it’s expected they’ll retire.
The halfback jersey will be up for grabs, and it was thought Black would step into the role.
However, Pezet’s move changes all that.
Have the Broncos been spooked by Tom Dearden all those years ago?
Dearden’s eventual success was always predicted but he came into the No.7 role at the Broncos at the wrong time.
Brisbane needed an experienced half, and Dearden had been thrown to the wolves.
He was ready to play second fiddle and learn his craft but Ezra Mam was already there and Reynolds was on the way.
So if the Broncos threw in Black in 2027 would it be too soon?
Pezet will be in a sweet spot that year and ready to go. Could Black play the Ben Hunt utility role for the start of his career?
Interestingly, it’s how Hunt came into the Broncos too at a young age.
Or is Black simply on the outer?
Is this the biggest hit yet to Meninga?
Pezet reportedly choosing the Eels and Broncos will have a big impact on Perth.
The deal will ensure Cameron Munster stays at Melbourne despite links to the Bears and leaves Mal Meninga without a marquee signing.
In September, The Australian reported Meninga was growing concerned with the direction of the Bears.
After the drama surrounding former Titans recruitment boss Ezra Howe, the Bears announced Dane Campbell would take the role a week after the report.
He has previously worked at the Broncos, Storm and Cowboys and would’ve given Meninga comfort.
But this could be a big miss.
Toby Sexton reportedly could head to Perth after his stint at Catalans and then there’s the rumours around Matt Burton, which have been denied by club powerbrokers.
Names such as Luke Metcalf, Jayden Campbell and Tyran Wishart will all be thrown up while they’re off contract but none have the star power of Munster.
Why are the Eels agreeing to this?
It’s hard to make sense of why Parramatta would do this.
Throughout this season, coach Jason Ryles decided Dylan Brown would no longer be in the halves because he had signed with the Knights.
So how is this any different?
The fact Ryles previously played with Pezet’s agent, Braith Anasta, probably helps as well as working with Pezet at Melbourne.
It appears the Eels will use Pezet as a stop-gap solution for 2026 – which means Joash Papalii isn’t the answer.
In the junior ranks for the Eels sit Lincoln Fletcher, Joshua Lynn, Lorenzo Talataina, Talen Risati and Te Hurinui Twidle but none of them are ready.
They will need to be ready by 2027 because the gap will return.
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