Jonah Pezet has been warned about the challenges ahead after the young gun playmaker signed one of the most unique deals in NRL history.<\/p>\n
Pezet will spend 2026 at the Eels before he joins the Broncos long term.<\/p>\n
The deal has major benefits for both sides after Pezet made the big call to leave the Melbourne Storm for more opportunities, with the youngster stuck behind established stars Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster.<\/p>\n
The Broncos get a star on the rise to replace the retiring Adam Reynolds in a key position, while the Eels get a quality playmaker with something to prove to partner rep star Mitch Moses in the halves.<\/p>\n
Parramatta is still searching for their long-term five-eighth following Dylan Brown\u2019s departure on a record-breaking deal to join the Knights, but Pezet is a dream replacement albeit for just one year.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a very confident kid and he\u2019s very loud which is something we needed,\u201d Moses said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe loves his footy and I love my footy, so we haven\u2019t had any dramas connecting on the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s very smart and he\u2019s very mature for his age. He hasn\u2019t played too much first grade, but he\u2019s got a strong footy mind. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s coming from one of the best clubs of the past 20 years and he would have learnt a lot off Jahrome and Munster who are two of the best halves in the game. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been really good for us, but everyone thinks they can win the premiership in the pre-season, so we just need to transition what we\u2019re doing well now out onto the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pezet will have big boots to fill when he arrives in Brisbane following Monday\u2019s announcement that Reynolds would retire at the end of the season.<\/p>\n
The 35-year-old captain of the Broncos helped them win a drought-breaking premiership and will go down as one of the best halfbacks of the modern era.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s done a lot for the whole NRL. He\u2019s been so good for us at the Broncos and he was so good at the Bunnies when he was there,\u201d Broncos utility Billy Walters told the NewsWire.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s probably been one of the top three halfbacks of the past 15 years, and we definitely wouldn\u2019t be anywhere near where we are without \u2018Reyno\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt probably wasn\u2019t too much of a surprise because he was getting to the point where it was either going to be this year or next year, and I think he just wanted to make sure that it wasn\u2019t about him and wanted to get it done so we could focus on this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
What happens next year is exciting, but Walters doesn\u2019t want to heap any unnecessary pressure on Pezet, with Brisbane players more focused on winning another title before Reynolds and Payne Haas (Rabbitohs) leave.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe get Jonah next year, and he\u2019s an exciting young prospect,\u201d Walters said after joining Brisbane in 2022 following stints with the Storm and the Wests Tigers. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to put too much pressure on him because I know that it can be pretty tough coming to the Broncos as a young halfback to take the reins. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut he\u2019s got a year at Parramatta where he can ply his trade, and hopefully they\u2019re priming him so he\u2019s ready to go when he comes to us.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll worry about that next year. Rugby league is a funny game, so you never know what\u2019s going to happen in 12 months\u2019 time. Who knows where we\u2019ll be at and who\u2019ll be in our team? <\/p>\n
\u201cWe just have to enjoy this last year with Payne and Reyno and make sure we go back to back.\u201d<\/p>\n