In one of the most extraordinary contract moves in recent NRL memory, rising playmaker Jonah Pezet has sent shockwaves through the rugby league world by signing a unique two-club agreement involving the Parramatta Eels and the Brisbane Broncos. The 22-year-old halfback is set to join Parramatta for the 2026 season before switching to the Broncos from 2027 onwards, a deal that has left fans and pundits scratching their heads — and talking non-stop.
Pezet, currently under contract with the Melbourne Storm, reportedly exercised a special clause that allowed him to negotiate elsewhere, sparking a three-way tug of war between Melbourne, Parramatta, and Brisbane. Ultimately, he agreed to a staged deal that will see him bolster the Eels’ spine during their ongoing rebuild under new coach Jason Ryles, before committing long-term to the Broncos’ future plans.
For the Eels, Pezet’s arrival in 2026 could not come at a better time. After a frustrating 2025 campaign that saw the club finish outside the top eight, Ryles has emphasized stability and attacking creativity as the pillars of Parramatta’s revival. Pezet’s precise kicking game, calm under pressure, and vision in attack fit perfectly into Ryles’ blueprint. His one-year stint could prove vital in mentoring emerging talents and reigniting the Eels’ finals aspirations.
Meanwhile, the Broncos have secured Pezet as their long-term playmaking solution. Brisbane officials see him as the successor to Adam Reynolds, ensuring a smooth transition for their premiership-contending roster.
The deal, however, has stirred debate across the NRL landscape. Critics argue that such “future-split” contracts risk undermining club loyalty and competitive integrity, while supporters say it reflects the evolving business side of the modern game — where player flexibility and career planning play larger roles than ever before.
As Pezet prepares for one final year with the Storm before his whirlwind journey through Parramatta and then Brisbane, one thing is clear — his career path has rewritten the playbook for NRL player movement, and the entire league will be watching how this bold experiment unfolds.
