Jonah Pezet was “blindsided” by Melbourne’s long-term deal for Jahrome Hughes and couldn’t wait any longer for regular NRL football, said agent Braith Anasta after a stunning double deal to join Parramatta then Brisbane.

Pezet triggered a release clause after the Storm’s grand final appearance, with Hughes re-signed until 2030 and blocking his path at halfback for the foreseeable future.

Anasta said he had been told by the Storm that Hughes was likely to head to a Queensland club; the New Zealand Test halfback had previously declined a $6 million offer from the Dolphins and there were then whispers about Brisbane, only for him to recommit to Melbourne. The Storm extension announced for Hughes back in July was worth about $1 million per year, far less than was being touted for him at expansion club Perth Bears ($1.6 million).

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Hughes’ extension was never going to work for Pezet’s progression, given that he has still only played 18 NRL games after patiently biding his time. So the Eels and Broncos swooped.

Braith unpacks Jonah Pezet’s new deal | 04:13

“It’s been an ongoing deal in terms of negotiations and a few moving parts,” Anasta said on BTFU’s 180 podcast.

“Essentially what we got told a year ago, when we signed Jonah to Melbourne with the extension, was that Jahrome was most likely not gonna be there at the end of his deal.

“Not because they don’t love him and he’s not a great player, but he was looking to move back to Queensland and his missus was keen on that. They were gonna go with Jonah and Cameron [Munster] in the halves, that was their thought process.

“We got blindsided by the signing of Jahrome – not because we don’t think he’s an amazing player or they shouldn’t have signed him – it was just that we didn’t expect it.”

Jahrome Hughes was thought to be departing Melbourne — which didn’t happen.Source: News Corp Australia

Anasta said that Melbourne had desperately tried to find a workable solution, including moving Cameron Munster to fullback; though that would have relied on Ryan Papenhuyzen moving to R360 or another club, plus the Storm have another rising star in Sualauvi Faalogo as their future No.1.

“As the year went on, Jonah didn’t really get the opportunity we thought he would have – especially when Jahrome went down, which was a concern for us. Then he played in the final against Bulldogs and got man of the match,” Anasta said.

“They were saying they want to keep him for next year, because they were gonna move Cameron to fullback and play Jonah in the halves with Jahrome.

“For us, there wasn’t much clarity there and we could end up staying here and the same thing happens next year. He is so ready now, you can’t hold him back.”

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Jonah Pezet is headed to Parramatta then Brisbane.Source: Supplied

Anasta said that the Eels and Broncos agreements had not been signed yet, but were going to happen.

He said that both situations were ideal for Pezet, 22, as a rising footballer and were not about money. Eels coach Jason Ryles was involved with Pezet’s development at Melbourne and the Eels were a serious contender as the long-term option.

“It hasn’t been signed yet – but I will say, there is a strong likelihood that it will happen the way it’s been put in the media,” Anasta said.

“When we executed the clause, he became completely off-contract. Parramatta he goes to for a year, him and Ryles are like this [close] and they talk on the regular.

“We thought, go to a club that’s on the improve and evolving, he knows the standards and he plays alongside Mitch Moses for development.

“That was a hard one to decide, whether it was Parra or Brisbane, because they were both great deals. It had nothing to do with money, because Melbourne would have kept going – they didn’t want to lose him, it was not money-based at all, on my kids’ life.

“It was purely an opportunity and to see where Jonah can be used best.

“With the Brisbane thing, that’s hard to knock back and that opportunity came a bit later. To partner Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh, three of the best up and coming stars combined when you add Jonah … and to be at the Brisbane Broncos, a powerhouse club and the No.7 taking over from Adam Reynolds, what else do you want?

“What better opportunity could you have? It was really exciting to go through that process with him and it was hard to knock that back and that’s where we have landed.”

Jonah Pezet is one of the NRL’s hottest young playmaking commodities.Source: Getty Images

Anasta denied that the Eels season was a waste of time for the club and insisted Pezet would be going there to help the club’s promising rise. Parramatta had a rough start under Ryles, before showing signs of life off the back of young guns like fullback Isaiah Iongi, who was runner-up in the Dally M Rookie of the Year award.

“I’ve seen a lot of backlash, I’ve noticed fans and even Hindy (Nathan Hindmarsh) on Triple M, who is a Parramatta legend and I love him and he’s got every right to have his say,” Anasta said.

“This is not taken lightly, it’s very strategic. If you don’t know the human being in Jonah, if you speak to the coaches in Melbourne and his work ethic … he is going there to win.

“You are bringing a kid who is 22 years of age and a future superstar, with great work ethic and core values, to partner him up with one of the best halves, if not the best half, in the competition. He comes in and straight away turns them into a top-eight team.

“Jonah has got the best IQ of any player I’ve ever met. Not just as a client, but I mean ever and Melbourne talk to that.

“Rylesy knows him better than anyone and he knows him better than anyone, so if you trust Rylesy – which the Parramatta fans have so far – he is not gonna make this decision if he thinks it’s gonna interrupt his team.

“You want to win now, you want to strike while the iron’s hot with [Isaiah] Iongi out the back and two gun nines and speed on the edges. If they have a great year next year, they’re not gonna go backwards. They have got some young halves who are not ready.”

Jonah Pezet of the Storm trains at Gosch’s Paddock. He’s now triggered a release clause with the club.Source: Getty Images

Anasta was referring to Lorenzo Talataina and Lincoln Fletcher, SG Ball premiership-winning halves with enormous potential but further growth in front of them before NRL duties call.

In the meantime, Anasta revealed — without going into detail — that the Eels were getting Pezet “really cheap”. They have a halves gap for next season after Dylan Brown went to Newcastle for $1.3 million per year.

“I understand they have missed out on the long-term deal and they are disappointed and I get that – but for his calibre, they are getting him really cheap,” Anasta said.

“It was just gonna be a one-year loan anyway and then he would go back to Melbourne and everyone seemed OK with that. All we’ve done is essentially the same thing – he is going there for a year and then going to Brisbane instead of back to Melbourne.

“I’m proud of what we were able to execute, because it’s never been done before – but it’s only never been done before because of the clause we had in. The reality is, how often is a player going to be allowed to negotiate because he has a clause in his contract and it’s all just before November and had the luxury of signing both contracts?

“They are both gonna benefit and I know he will as well. He’s so pumped and so excited about it, I think the fans will warm to it.”