BY DAN

The Canberra Raiders are reportedly interested in Jonah Pezet, either on loan or in a permanent deal, according to the Canberra Times.

This is a curious piece of news. Pezet is a thinking fan’s proof they know ball. Someone that has shown enough at both QLD Cup and first grade level that he can conceivably be seen as the ‘next’, while also never having to actually prove it. The Storm have got him stuck behind Jahrome Hughes, and will do so forever. While Cam Munster may move on at some point, Pezet is a proper halfback; a first receiver, kicker, organiser and ballplayer.

Melbourne are right to see him as the heir apparent to Hughes, who is about to turn 31. That’s why they’re so keen on a loan deal, rather than a permanent loss. One or two years in another system, and either Munster moves on or Hughes’ body betrays him. The keys are handed over, a la Cam Smith to Harry Grant, and the decades of Melbourne dominance continue. It makes sense. I hate it.

Canberra’s reported involvement is curious. The reporting suggests they are interested in him as their third halfback, which is insane. That’s not going to happen. The Canberra Times seems to have a fair line to the Raiders recruitment chat, so we’re happy to take the veracity of this claim at face value, but Pezet could start at many clubs. The Knights have tried for years to make him their first-choice No.7. The Titans are after him now. The Bears loom (do Bears loom?). It would be surprising if he joined the Raiders without some promise of being the presumptive starter. Why would you join, or be loaned, otherwise? And why would the Storm let him play for Canberra’s NSW Cup side instead of their QLD Cup team?

This leaves us with three alternatives. One, they are not serious, floating nice to have rather than something they think will happen, and just doing Pezet’s agent a favour so he can steer them Lachie Ilias as their backup seven. Two, they are not as convinced by Ethan Sanders as I am, and seeking to find the next best path or push Sanders to better things – a return to Stuart’s famed competition philosophy. Or three, they are insane and actually think Pezet would join the club to play NSW Cup happily. I don’t love any of those outcomes.

If it’s a rejection of Sanders, it’s an odd one. Canberra have already abandoned two projects this season – Chevy Stewart and Trey Mooney – in favour of more established pieces. Weekes has definitely been a win, but he’s still developing, and the semi-final against the Sharks showed the lessons he’s still learning. Mooney was usurped by Josh Papalii, who may have been one of Canberra’s best in their finals run.

Nothing Sanders has done in NSW Cup has led me to believe he wouldn’t be a good fit with the first string side. On occasion in Cup it felt like he was trying to do too much. That’s a lesson that a range of players (like Owen Pattie) are learning. Reading a game at speed takes reps. Sanders will be an upgrade on Fogarty in running at the line, and defending alongside Hudson Young and Seb Kris will provide him plenty of defensive support. Strange flipping to the right will make Matt Timoko’s job much easier. There’s a lot to like.

Having him in the first grade side seems like a really good fit, if one likely to encounter the inevitable bumps of development. Bringing Pezet in as competition, either to delay that process, or provide him incentive, is like when my brother bought a ’87 Corolla with sports exhaust, blue mags and a lowered suspension. It’s a bit much.

If it were just a one-year loan, it would make more sense. Sanders gets another season to work into first grade. The Raiders roll with a more like-for-like replacement for Jamal Fogarty. But as a permanent deal, it feels like chasing two rabbits at once. You can’t give two halfbacks regular first-grade time. You can’t build defensive cohesion if your halves are flipping every few weeks. At some point, a halfback has to be given the keys. If the Raiders aren’t sure about Sanders, it would make more sense to chase an established player. Pezet has played more and shown more, but not enough to give up on Sanders.

Most likely, this is just noise. The report also say it depends on what the young playmaker wants. I doubt that’s moving from the Storm to the Raiders for a demotion. The Bears, Titans, and Knights will all come knocking for Jonah Pezet. Canberra may like the idea of having him in the chamber, or flirting with him as a longer-term option. But he’ll opt for certainty – either through a loan deal with guaranteed starts before he goes back to the Storm, or by heading somewhere for a proper chance.

So while this is interesting, it feels like a fraught chase destined to end with nothing for the Milk. The Raiders’ search for halfback depth will continue.

Do us a solid and like our page on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or share this on social media and we can cry together. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.