The manager of Melbourne playmaker Jonah Pezet says they were "blindsided" by the Storm's decision to re-sign Jahrome Hughes, with a lack of opportunities also behind his young charge's departure from the NRL club.
Braith Anasta has set up a unique deal that will see Pezet play for three clubs in three years - leaving Melbourne to spend a season with Parramatta and then a long-term contract with premiers Brisbane.
Anasta said they were told Hughes was likely to move home to Queensland, which would have seen Pezet take over the No.7 jersey for the 2027 season, but the Dally M Medallist instead re-signed in July until 2030.
"Essentially, what we got told a year ago was that Jahrome was most likely not going to be there at the end of his deal," Anasta said on the BTFU 180 podcast.
"Not because they don't love him and he's not a great player, but he was looking to move back to Queensland and his missus was keen on that.
"I think they were going to go with Jonah and Cameron in the halves, that was their thought process.
"We got blindsided by the signing of Jahrome - not because we don't think he's an amazing player or they shouldn't have signed him - it was just that we didn't expect it."
Anasta said the lack of game time the 22-year-old got when Hughes suffered a shoulder and then arm injury contributed to his call to move on, with Storm coach Craig Bellamy preferring utility Tyran Wishart.
"As the year went on, Jonah didn't really get the opportunity we thought he would have, especially when Jahrome went down, which was a concern for us," he said.
"Then he played in the finals against Bulldogs and got man of the match and we thought 'we've been holding him back too long'. We thought he could have had more opportunities this year and got in the grand final (team) and had an impact.
"For us, there wasn't much clarity there and we could end up staying here and the same thing happens next year. He is so ready now, you can't hold him back."
Anasta said contracts were yet to be signed but the plan was for Pezet to develop alongside representative playmaker Mitch Moses before he replaces Adam Reynolds as Brisbane's next No.7.
He said it wasn't about money but about opportunities, with Pezet restricted to 18 games in three seasons, although he has also suffered an ACL injury.
"It had nothing to do with money because Melbourne would have kept going. They didn't want to lose him and it was not money-based at all - it was purely an opportunity and to see where Jonah can be his best.
"With the Brisbane thing, that's hard to knock back and that opportunity came a bit later.
"To partner Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh, three of the best up-and coming stars combined when you add Jonah … and to be at the Brisbane Broncos, a powerhouse club and the No.7 taking over from Adam Reynolds, what else do you want?
"It was really exciting to go through that process with him and it was hard to knock that back and that's where we have landed."
