Moses brushes off ‘short-sighted’ critics of odd Pezet deal

Betting big on the present, the Parramatta Eels believe the arrival of Jonah Pezet is the missing link in a genuine premiership tilt.

The former Storm player has joined the club on a unique one-year ‘stopover’ deal before moving to Brisbane next season.

It’s an unconventional move, but one halfback Mitchell Moses hopes will protect the long-term development of the club’s local juniors while keeping the Eels in the hunt for immediate success.

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“That’s the club’s decision that they’ve made,” he told Wide World of Sports at the NRL season launch on Tuesday.

“They’ve obviously got their ways in what and around it, and their opinions, but we’ve got some really good kids coming through at the moment who are young, and you don’t want to rush them in.

“So, they can learn under Jonah, and Jonah helps us win now, and that’s, I think, what it was around that.”

Asked if investing in a playmaker who is only around for a single season is short-sighted, Moses insisted it was a “no-brainer” to sign Pezet.

“We want to win now,” he said.

“We feel like we’ve got a pretty good squad at the moment, so, for us to be able to compete now.

“Anytime you can add a quality player like Jonah to your squad, even if it’s for a year, you do it.”

When questioned if Pezet would be treated differently — or if his impending departure might act as a barrier to being accepted by the squad — Moses dismissed the idea.

“No, not at all,” he said.

“There’re a few cheeky stabs at him, but it’s all fun.

“We don’t look at it like that. Our goal is to win now, and having him on board with us, it definitely helps us.”

Pezet joined the group in November, following a break after his grand final campaign with the Storm.

“He’s been a good addition to us, and he’s really fit in with the playing group, and we’re excited to have him on board,” Moses said.

“He’s a very confident kid, he’s very loud, and very assertive, so that’s good. You want that in your halves.

“He brings a bit of a different aspect to our footy and a bit of different values to our footy.”

While Moses and Pezet are set to form a dynamic halves pairing for 2026, the youngster’s arrival also serves as an insurance policy should the senior playmaker be sidelined.

Although Pezet will likely wear the No.6 jersey, he will not be a like-for-like replacement for Dylan Brown.

Last season, the Eels struggled significantly in Moses’ absence with injury, but Pezet’s arrival changes the equation.

The club now boasts a ready-made halfback capable of steering the side during the State of Origin period or stepping up immediately should Moses become unavailable.

”I think it works pretty well, to be honest,” Moses said.

“We both love our footy and put a lot of time into our footy, so anything we can bounce ideas off and see where we can get better as a team, he’s been really good.

“We’ve flowed pretty well in the pre-season, but I feel like everyone thinks they’re going to win the comp and everyone’s on fire in the pre-season, so it’s just how we transition at the start of the year.”

Moses admits that the last two seasons have been deeply frustrating following significant stints on the sidelines.

His primary goal for the 2026 campaign is to remain on the park, hoping to spend more time playing and less time “sitting on the sideline and watching”.

The 31-year-old believes that success in the NRL is almost entirely contingent on squad fitness.

He argues that any side capable of putting their “best team out week in, week out” will naturally be a finals contender.

The Eels finished 11th last year in coach Jason Ryles’ first campaign at the helm.

While optimistic about a return to the finals after three years, Moses admits that maintaining a full squad will be a challenge; the Eels need their best players available for the majority of the season to be in the mix.

The Eels are preparing for their first official hit-out of the 2026 pre-season against the Cronulla Sharks at Henson Park on Sunday.