Storm young gun looking to fire shots through finals
Melissa Woods |
He may only have 17 NRL games under his belt, but young playmaker Jonah Pezet says he has the footy IQ to steer Melbourne through the NRL finals.
The Storm host the first qualifying final against Canterbury on Friday night, the winner locking down a preliminary play-off on home turf, the loser facing a sudden-death semi-final.
While Melbourne are gunning for consecutive NRL grand finals, it’s 10 years to the day since the Bulldogs last won a final.
Melbourne are minus Dally M Medal-winning halfback Jahrome Hughes, with a club great in former Storm skipper Cameron Smith plumping for Pezet as his replacement.
His three years in the NRL have been interrupted by repeat knee surgeries and hamstring issues, but Pezet has done enough to impress Smith, who praised his organisational skills and kicking game.
Often described as a “confident kid” by Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, Pezet has no qualms about calling the shots when he’s in the halves.
“I don’t know if that’s a rap or a bad thing,” Pezet said of Bellamy’s characterisation.
“I think that’s my role in the team, so I try and bring that strength that I can to the team and try and steer the boys around the best way.
“Obviously I think being in this system gives you confidence to go out there and do what I need to do and bring what I bring to the game and the team each week, and I’m probably confident in my own ability as well.”
Pezet puts his belief down to growing up around rugby league, with his dad Troy turning out for Parramatta and the South Queensland Crushers back in the 1980s before a premature retirement.
“I’ve been around football since I was four years old, obviously with Dad playing and then coaching,” he told AAP.
“Ever since I can remember I’ve been in a football shed, whether it be playing or ball-boying or whatever like that.
“I wouldn’t say the bossy stuff comes naturally, but just the football knowledge, IQ, all that comes pretty natural to me.”
Hughes recently signing on until 2030 means Pezet can invoke a clause in his contract to leave the Storm to chase a regular starting first-grade spot.
Playing well in the finals would be the perfect way to impress suitors, but Pezet said it wasn’t a motivation, and he and his manager Braith Anasta had agreed with the Storm to leave any negotiations until the season’s end.
“Obviously my contract situation is well known, but a few weeks ago Dad and I spoke to BA (Anasta) and we made the decision with the club that we’ll just bank that until the end of the year,” said Pezet, named on the bench against the Bulldogs.
“Finals footy, obviously, that’s my main focus – being here and winning a flag and winning a ring here, and whatever comes after that will come.”
AAP
