Stay with me here Parramatta fans. Just listen for a second before you throw your toys out the cot and curse the Eels hierarchy for their decision to bring Jonah Pezet to the club for 12 months before he moves to Brisbane.
It may yet prove to be a stroke of genius. If you paid close attention to the reaction on fan forums and social media since this masthead revealed that Pezet was in talks with the Eels, the response to his imminent signing hasn’t been as smooth as many expected.
If anything, frustrated Eels fans are up in arms. Incandescent at the prospect of housing Pezet before he packs his belongings and shifts to the premiers to help them create a dynasty.
Parramatta fans apparently want to know why their club is a transit lounge for one of the best young playmakers in the game.
If you dig a little deeper, it’s really not that hard to understand. Pretty obvious really. First of all, this is about winning - Pezet gives Parramatta the best chance to win over the next 12 months as they look to continue to make progress under Jason Ryles.
A halves pairing of Pezet and Mitchell Moses has the ability to stack up alongside any duo of playmakers the NRL. Throw in Isaiah Iongi, Ryley Smith and Tallyn da Silva, and the Eels’ spine borders on elite.
Pezet has played the sum total of 18 games in the NRL. He made only eight appearances this season but he showed his quality by leading the Storm in absence of Jahrome Hughes on the opening week of the finals as they dismissed the Bulldogs.
If there was a lingering question over his ability to be a high-class NRL half, it was erased that night. Melbourne certainly were convinced - they wanted Pezet to stay at the club despite the presence of Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes.
Pezet had other ideas, notifying the Storm that he was heading to market only days after the grand final in a move that put a handful of clubs on high alert.
North Queensland and Canberra were interested in short-term deals for Pezet but the Eels won the day thank to his relationship with Ryles and the opportunity to spend 12 months working alongside Mitchell Moses.
Interestingly, his presence will also be a safety net if Moses isn’t there. Moses has missed more than 30 games over the past three years through State of Origin and injury but the Eels now have a general to step in and take control of the team if necessary.
Previously, Moses’ absence had been a death knell for the Eels. Pezet will give them hope that they can fill the void. Parramatta fans have further questioned the wisdom of signing Pezet when Dylan Brown was dropped this year to allow the Eels to experiment with potential five-eighths.
Joash Papali’i played 13 games, most in the No.6 jersey, but he is far from the finished article. He showed glimpses of his ability but he will now have time to work on his craft and develop his game. So will the other young halves coming through the ranks at Parramatta - Lorenzo Talataina was named the SG Ball player of the year this season and Lincoln Fletcher is a former Australian schoolboy who has been earmarked for big things.
Like Papali’i, they will now have time to develop their game in the knowledge that their path is not blocked. That was crucial. Part of the reason Parramatta lost Blaize Talagi was that he couldn’t see a path to playing first grade in the halves because Brown was on the scene.
Penrith could offer him that opportunity. Parramatta were wary of making the same mistake. They had no desire to permanently impede the opportunity for their next batch of young stars. Signing Pezet for 12 months ensures that the path remains clear.
Papali’i, Talataina and Fletcher can take their time and leave it to Pezet for the next 12 months. After that, it will one a free-for-all. May the best man win. In the meantime, Pezet will hold the fort and help Parramatta win some games. Seems like a solid plan to me.
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