Melbourne Storm captain Harry Grant has come to the defense of Jonah Pezet after former teammate Brandon Smith criticized the young halfback’s decision to re-sign with the Storm over joining the Newcastle Knights. Smith, who now plays for the Sydney Roosters, expressed confusion on the ‘Bye Round’ podcast, questioning why Pezet would stay at a club where he would likely remain a backup to Jahrome Hughes, Cameron Munster, and Tyran Wishart, rather than taking up a starting role at Newcastle.
“He’s staying at the Melbourne Storm, where he’s going to be a back-up,” Smith said. “They’ve got Jahrome Hughes there, he’s just come off the best year of his career and he doesn’t look like he’s slowing down.” He added that he found it “strange” that Pezet, at 21, would pass up an opportunity to become the central figure at a club like the Knights, who were reportedly offering him a lucrative $2.5 million deal and even had captain Kalyn Ponga attend a dinner to persuade him.
However, Pezet, who was being heavily courted by Newcastle, decided to turn down their offer and remain at the Storm. Despite being behind a star-studded spine, including the likes of Hughes and Munster, Pezet opted to continue his development with Melbourne.
Grant, a close teammate of Pezet’s, responded strongly to Smith’s comments. “Jonah loves this club,” Grant said. “He’s willing to fight for his spot, and that’s the mentality we value here at the Storm. It’s not about taking the easy path or looking for guaranteed minutes, it’s about earning your place.”
Grant emphasized that Pezet’s decision to stay was not about backing away from competition, but rather a reflection of his commitment to the Storm’s culture and his desire to grow under the guidance of Melbourne’s experienced playmakers. “Jonah wants to be the best and understands that to do that, he needs to push himself in a system that demands excellence,” Grant added.
The comments from both players highlight the contrasting philosophies within professional rugby league. While Smith believes Pezet could have advanced his career more quickly with a guaranteed starting role at Newcastle, Grant believes the 21-year-old is making the right decision to stay and learn from some of the best in the game.
