Despite Adam O’Brien’s side doing all in their power to get the Storm young player, top target Jonah Pezet has turned down a transfer north, dealing the Newcastle Knights a devastating setback ahead of the 2025 NRL season. When the young playmaker entered the NRL open market in November, O’Brien made Pezet the top player on his wish list and tried to persuade him to rejoin his old team.
The Storm had previously eliminated the chance that Pezet would be loaned to the Knights for the upcoming campaign, much like captain Harry Grant was to the Wests Tigers when he was Cameron Smith’s backup at Melbourne. Pezet was reportedly keen for more playing time and given he is currently stuck behind the representative halves pairing of Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes at the Storm and Tyran Wishart the Knights saw an opportunity.
Last month, Pezet rebuffed a contract extension with the Storm, giving Newcastle confidence that they may sign one of the most promising young players in the NRL. Newcastle star and captain Kalyn Ponga was also present when the Knights took Pezet out to supper. After a lengthy conversation, the representative fullback attempted to persuade the young player to rejoin the team where he had previously played junior representative football.
After the meeting, the young half was presented with a four-year deal worth an incredible $2.5 million by the Knights. However, it was made clear on Friday that it wasn’t enough when Pezet, who is recovering from knee surgery, signed a long-term contract to stay with the Storm.
His new contract, however, includes a provision that will enable him to leave the team if Jahrome Hughes decides to stay at Melbourne for an extended period of time, according to News Corp. Pezet’s contract expires at the end of 2029, however he might be able to quit sooner.
Hughes has a deal with Melbourne through the end of 2026. Pezet will instantly become a free agent if he accepts a contract after that time. But since Hughes will be 32 in 2026 and Pezet will still have at least ten years of football remaining in him—he will only be 23 in 2026—the Storm might decide to select Pezet at that point.