Latest news with #JonahPezet
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Matty Johns predicts rival club's huge play for Melbourne Storm young gun
Matty Johns feels the Newcastle Knights could be set to make a big play for Melbourne star Jonah Pezet with a halfback merry-go-round occurring in the NRL. This week reported the Knights told Jack Cogger and Tyson Gamble they are free to leave the club if they can negotiate long-term deals elsewhere. The Knights have used a baffling number of halves combinations in 2023 and 2024, but it appears going forward Cogger and Gamble are seen as surplus to requirements. Jackson Hastings is also set to leave after the 2025 season. Since the news, Cogger has been linked with a move back to Penrith. Incoming recruit Dylan Brown is expected to play in the halves in 2026 with Fletcher Sharpe partnering him in the No.6 jersey. Although former Knights five-eighth Johns feels the club is freeing up space in the salary cap for a play at Pezet. The 22-year-old playmaker has been biding his time behind Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes at the Storm. Hughes' re-signing means Pezet can now negotiate with other clubs due to a clause in his contract. Pezet was linked to the Knights, before he signed a deal to keep him at the Storm until 2029. The playmaker grew up close to the city and the Knights initially thought they might be able to lure him back. And Johns feels the Knights might be freeing up cash to target the highly-touted playmaker after recent updates suggest he will have to bide his time as a reserve for a few more years at the Storm. "I reckon they are freeing up stuff for Jonah Pezet," Johns said Thursday on SEN Radio. "They made a big play for Jonah Pezet a couple of years is a local junior." Speaking on Wednesday, Johns added he feels the club is making room for a huge play at the local junior. "When it was spoken about where he may end up, I thought well it won't be the Knights because we have a mile of halves. But obviously they are trying to clear space," he added. "We need some stability there because we have gone, honestly, every single week with a new halves combination." RELATED: Reece Walsh urged to 'make a decision' as Broncos face $5 million issue Stunning news about Latrell Mitchell as Bennett axing divides Jonah Pezet tossing up options at Melbourne Storm Pezet played 29 minutes from the bench in the 22-2 win over the Broncos on Thursday night, but is still behind Munster, Hughes and now Tyran Wishart in the halves pecking order. That marked his 14th appearance for the club. And speaking this week around the speculation, Pezet claimed he would like to be playing more footy going forward. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play NRL every week," Pezet said. "As a kid you grow up and that's what you want to do. So of course I want to chase those opportunities. But I'm just focused on putting my best foot forward every week, so that's when Belza (coach Craig Bellamy) picks me in the team." While talks of a loan deal for Pezet have emerged, Munster is also signed on until the end of the 2027 season. Speaking on NRL 360 this week, agent Braith Anasta said his player Munster isn't set to leave Melbourne before his deal ends and it's all just speculation at the moment. This follows plenty of speculation the Perth Bears are keen on bringing Munster over as a marquee signing. And Anasta's insistence Munster is remaining in Melbourne until the end of the 2027 season, and maybe beyond, could prompt a move from Pezet. And Johns feels the Knights are going to be one of the team's going big for the 22-year-old star.
The Australian
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
NRL 2025: Storm could loan Jonah Pezet to rival club
Storm young gun Jonah Pezet says it's only natural for him to want to play NRL every week as speculation mounts that the halfback could be loaned to a rival club for 2026 after Jahrome Hughes signed a long-term extension with Melbourne. Pezet, 22, inked a new deal last year to remain in Melbourne until the end of the 2029 season but has a get-out clause if Hughes extended his stay. That could now come into play, with his agent Braith Anasta referencing potential talks with the club while speaking on NRL 360 last week. Pezet has played three games off the bench this season after returning from a devastating knee injury last year but would be a starting halfback at plenty of other clubs. His preference is to stay at the Storm long term, but there is a chance he spends next year at another team, with speculation he would start in 2027 if Cameron Munster is granted permission to deal with the Perth Bears. Jonah Pezet's Storm future could be decided in the coming weeks. Picture:'I think I'll leave that up to Braith and everyone at the club, whether it be Trippy (Storm chairman Matt Tripp), or Bunny (Storm recruitment manager Paul Bunn) and the people in charge, Frank (Storm director of football Frank Ponissi) and stuff, they'll sort it all out,' Pezet said. 'I'm just focused on putting my best foot forward every week and that's when Belza (Storm coach Craig Bellamy) picks the team, so I'll do what I can to make sure he puts me in the 17 every week and then all the other stuff will roll off the back of that. 'Obviously, the best footy I play, the more NRL I'm going to get, so that's what I'm focused on. 'I think I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play NRL every week. As a kid you grow up and that's what you want to do, so of course I want to chase those opportunities. 'Obviously with 'Hughesy' going down there's an opportunity there at the moment, and I'll keep putting my best foot forward so that when the time comes, I'm ready for that wherever it might be.' Harry Grant spent a year at the Wests Tigers in 2020 and Paul Momirovski was sent to the Storm in a historic swap deal. Picture: Michael Carayannis The Storm is no stranger to allowing young stars to develop at other clubs, with Harry Grant joining the Wests Tigers in 2020 on a swap deal that brought Paul Momirovski to Melbourne. Grant was stuck behind Cameron Smith and Brandon Smith who led the Storm to grand final glory that year, but the move allowed Grant to gain valuable experience that ended up with him being named Dally M Rookie of the Year. 'That was the best thing that I could have done at the time, and I'm so grateful for everyone that allowed that to happen,' said Grant, who returned to Melbourne in 2021 and is now the best hooker in the world. 'I had the conversation with Jesse Arthars a few years ago after he asked me about it. He was at the Broncos and went on loan to the Warriors and then went back to the Broncos. 'He asked me and I said '100 per cent do it. If you've got the opportunity to go, then go and do it because the more you play in the NRL, the better'. 'The Broncos were better for it and Jesse was better for it, and at the time, the Warriors were better for it. If it benefits all three parties, then it's such a good thing that can keep bringing talent to light.' Pezet could benefit from a loan deal to another club before potentially returning to the Storm in 2027. Picture:Pezet started three games in the halves last year before his injury but will come off the bench again on Thursday against the Broncos after Bellamy revealed he didn't actually have a plan for him in last week's win over the Eels. It's a role he's happy to do for now, with Pezet soaking up as much as he can from Hughes as well as other star spine members Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Munster. 'I'm definitely confident in my own ability to go out there and play 80 minutes of footy in the halfback position, but that's not what's best for the team at the moment and I'll just go out there and do my role when I have to,' he said. Pezet has worked with Immortal Andrew Johns in the past and wants to learn as much as he can from a number of halfbacks, including Hughes, who relies on other parts of his game to succeed. Pezet has been able to work with some talented halfbacks. Picture: NRL Photos 'He's been really good for me,' he said. 'Obviously, we're a bit different, he's a bit more of a runner and he's based his game off that where I kind of base my game off other things. 'So whether it's off Hughesy, Mun, Harry, all the people in our spine, I try and learn off them, but as a halfback and as a student of the game, you want to watch everyone. 'You want to watch the Nathans (Nathan Cleary), you want to watch Mitch Moses, you want to learn off Joey Johns, you want to learn off everyone you can. 'I don't think I'm definitely locked in on just learning off Jahrome, but obviously the things he's done in the game are really special.'
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘I'd be lying': Storm young gun Jonah Pezet opens up on potential loan move
Storm young gun Jonah Pezet says it's only natural for him to want to play NRL every week as speculation mounts that the halfback could be loaned to a rival club for 2026 after Jahrome Hughes signed a long-term extension with Melbourne. Pezet, 22, inked a new deal last year to remain in Melbourne until the end of the 2029 season but has a get-out clause if Hughes extended his stay. That could now come into play, with his agent Braith Anasta referencing potential talks with the club while speaking on NRL 360 last week. Pezet has played three games off the bench this season after returning from a devastating knee injury last year but would be a starting halfback at plenty of other clubs. His preference is to stay at the Storm long term, but there is a chance he spends next year at another team, with speculation he would start in 2027 if Cameron Munster is granted permission to deal with the Perth Bears. 'I think I'll leave that up to Braith and everyone at the club, whether it be Trippy (Storm chairman Matt Tripp), or Bunny (Storm recruitment manager Paul Bunn) and the people in charge, Frank (Storm director of football Frank Ponissi) and stuff, they'll sort it all out,' Pezet said. 'I'm just focused on putting my best foot forward every week and that's when Belza (Storm coach Craig Bellamy) picks the team, so I'll do what I can to make sure he puts me in the 17 every week and then all the other stuff will roll off the back of that. 'Obviously, the best footy I play, the more NRL I'm going to get, so that's what I'm focused on. 'I think I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play NRL every week. As a kid you grow up and that's what you want to do, so of course I want to chase those opportunities. 'Obviously with 'Hughesy' going down there's an opportunity there at the moment, and I'll keep putting my best foot forward so that when the time comes, I'm ready for that wherever it might be.' The Storm is no stranger to allowing young stars to develop at other clubs, with Harry Grant joining the Wests Tigers in 2020 on a swap deal that brought Paul Momirovski to Melbourne. Grant was stuck behind Cameron Smith and Brandon Smith who led the Storm to grand final glory that year, but the move allowed Grant to gain valuable experience that ended up with him being named Dally M Rookie of the Year. 'That was the best thing that I could have done at the time, and I'm so grateful for everyone that allowed that to happen,' said Grant, who returned to Melbourne in 2021 and is now the best hooker in the world. 'I had the conversation with Jesse Arthars a few years ago after he asked me about it. He was at the Broncos and went on loan to the Warriors and then went back to the Broncos. 'He asked me and I said '100 per cent do it. If you've got the opportunity to go, then go and do it because the more you play in the NRL, the better'. 'The Broncos were better for it and Jesse was better for it, and at the time, the Warriors were better for it. If it benefits all three parties, then it's such a good thing that can keep bringing talent to light.' Pezet started three games in the halves last year before his injury but will come off the bench again on Thursday against the Broncos after Bellamy revealed he didn't actually have a plan for him in last week's win over the Eels. It's a role he's happy to do for now, with Pezet soaking up as much as he can from Hughes as well as other star spine members Grant, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Munster. 'I'm definitely confident in my own ability to go out there and play 80 minutes of footy in the halfback position, but that's not what's best for the team at the moment and I'll just go out there and do my role when I have to,' he said. Pezet has worked with Immortal Andrew Johns in the past and wants to learn as much as he can from a number of halfbacks, including Hughes, who relies on other parts of his game to succeed. 'He's been really good for me,' he said. 'Obviously, we're a bit different, he's a bit more of a runner and he's based his game off that where I kind of base my game off other things. 'So whether it's off Hughesy, Mun, Harry, all the people in our spine, I try and learn off them, but as a halfback and as a student of the game, you want to watch everyone. 'You want to watch the Nathans (Nathan Cleary), you want to watch Mitch Moses, you want to learn off Joey Johns, you want to learn off everyone you can. 'I don't think I'm definitely locked in on just learning off Jahrome, but obviously the things he's done in the game are really special.'
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Andrew Johns singles out Craig Bellamy's call as Storm look to solve halves drama
NRL legend Andrew Johns feels Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy should have gone with Jonah Pezet in the No.7 jersey against the Eels after Jahrome Hughes' injury. Bellamy is facing a tough call heading into the backend of the regular season after star halfback Hughes dislocated his shoulder in his side's win over the Roosters last Thursday, which will rule him out for an estimated six weeks. Questions are being asked if the Storm can win the competition without Hughes with his return timeframe in doubt. While the Storm welcome back Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen to the fold, the loss of Hughes is huge. The Storm have lost four of their last five games when Hughes has been absent since 2024. Tyran Wishart has filled in at halfback for four of those five games. And Bellamy has selected Wishart to step back into the No.7 jersey against the Eels on Thursday, despite some calls for Pezet to get the role. Pezet is touted as a future star of the NRL, despite the 22-year-old biding his time behind Hughes and Munster in recent years. Hughes' contract extension also allows Pezet to negotiate with other clubs thanks to a clause in his deal with the Storm. And Johns feels this is the right time to select Pezet and give him the reins. Pezet has never had an extended run in the starting XIII and Johns feels Bellamy may have missed a beat in turning to Wishart. "Now Jonah Pezet's on the bench in 14, I'd actually give Jonah (the start). He's had an apprenticeship for three or four years, put him in, it's his time," he said on the Channel Nine show Freddy and the Eighth. Wishart has been a brilliant utility under Bellamy's reign having filled in across the park for the Storm. Pezet has only made 12 appearances across the last three years at the Storm and fans are waiting to see more of the youngster considering a number of teams were keen on signing him. Pezet has shown glimpses of his brilliance and will be given another chance to do so off the bench against the Parramatta Eels, even though Johns feels he should be starting. And with the news this weeks Hughes will be staying around until the end of 2030, Pezet can reportedly now negotiate with other clubs. Jonah Pezet stuck behind Hughes and Munster Pezet recently re-signed with the Storm until the end of 2029, but has an agreement that he could leave if Hughes extended his contract. Hughes re-signing has seemingly signalled the end of Pezet's time in Melbourne, but the Munster situation could change that dramatically. If Munster were to leave after his current deal, Pezet might opt to stay around and bide his time. RELATED: Wayne Bennett and Rabbitohs set for fresh NRL blow as player seeks exit Roosters set for swift James Tedesco play as Kalyn Ponga links continue Panthers great Greg Alexander suggested on SEN Radio that Pezet will surely look for a new deal elsewhere after Hughes' contract extension, and reporter David Riccio claimed the young playmaker can do just that. "I would think so, I really do. There are clauses in his contract that allow him to manoeuvre and have a look around on the basis if Jahrome Hughes re-signs at the footy club...I think that will eventuate for sure," Riccio said.
