Titans eye off loan deal with Storm halfback Pezet

The Gold Coast is exploring the possibility of picking up Melbourne playmaker Jonah Pezet on a loan deal for next season.

Pezet is contracted to the Storm until the end of 2029, but is stuck behind the superstar halves pairing of Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes. The club also has utility Tyran Wishart, who is capable of playing in the halves, although Pezet starred when chosen as the preferred fill-in for the injured Hughes against Canterbury last week.

Pezet is technically a free agent given he has a clause in his contract that allows him to explore his options after Hughes re-signed long term. That came into effect after the reigning Dally M medallist recently recommitted to the Storm until the end of 2030.

The Titans believe Pezet will give new coach Josh Hannay the controlling halfback required to help the team climb up the ladder. However, they have no room in their salary cap and would need to move on players to pull off the move. David Fifita is poised to join South Sydney, but negotiations have been put on hold due to the recent passing of his father.

Regan Campbell-Gillard is considering joining English side London Broncos, while Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Phillip Sami and Brian Kelly have also been granted permission to explore their options.

The Storm is a pioneer when it comes to loan deals. The club made history when Harry Grant – then a fringe first-grader stuck behind hookers Cameron Smith and Brandon Smith – traded places with Paul Momirovski at Wests Tigers in 2020. It proved to be an incredible platform for Grant’s career: after starring for the joint-venture outfit, he quickly rose to the representative ranks and is now the captain of the Storm.

Other clubs are also interested in Pezet’s services, but few require a game-managing No.7 as much as the Titans. Kieran Foran has just retired, halves option Carter Gordon only made his NRL debut in the final game of the season, while there’s some debate about what Jayden Campbell’s best position is.

Some of the obstacles that would need to be overcome would include whether Pezet is allowed to play against Melbourne and whether he could be recalled home early if the Storm suffer injuries.

“As I said before, I am focused on the finals series for us. But I am sort of an open book at the moment to any sort of loan deals or whatever that might be,” Pezet said during an appearance on NRL 360 during the week.

“Obviously, the club has had a fair bit of experience in 2020 loaning out Harry there for a bit.”

NRL 360 host Braith Anasta, who is Pezet’s manager, added: “We are not sure where this is going to land right now, it’s sort of up in the air. But technically, he is a free agent.

“Of course [his preference] is to stay, but he is also a smart kid. Jahrome is the No.7 and he’s just re-signed. We saw the other night how he plays as a No.7.”

Isaah Yeo insists shoulder injury won’t cruel Kangaroo tour hopes

Robert Dillon

Incumbent Kangaroos skipper Isaah Yeo is confident a partially dislocated shoulder that sidelined him towards the end of the regular season will not force him to miss the Ashes tour of England.

Yeo was unable to finish Penrith’s round-22 win against Gold Coast when his shoulder sub-luxed, or popped out, and he sat out three of their next four games leading into the finals.

Penrith’s inspirational skipper has since delivered two consecutive 80-minute performances, including last week’s 24-8 win against the Warriors in the opening round of the play-offs.

He has produced 93 tackles in those two games, and carried the ball 256 metres, to allay any concerns about his fitness.

“I had to make a million tackles last week, so it’s holding up all right ... everything’s all systems go,” Yeo said. “It’s no dramas.”

Asked if he would need post-season surgery, which is often required after shoulder dislocations, Yeo replied: “No. I don’t think so.”

That means the 30-year-old lock is likely to be available to represent Australia in their three Tests in the Old Dart in October and November. It will be the first Ashes series in 22 years.

“That’s certainly the plan, obviously,” Yeo said when asked if he hoped to be available to tour.

“That’s all things considered, and you want to be a part of those ... you want to be a part of those big ones, particularly with sort of the history surrounded with it, and we just haven’t been on a tour like that for so long. So, they’re the ones you want to be a part of, and I’ve certainly put my hand up for sure.”

Yeo led Australia during a successful Pacific Championships campaign last year, skippered NSW in this year’s State of Origin series, and has been co-captain in Penrith’s four consecutive premiership wins.

Yet he is not counting on retaining the Kangaroos’ captaincy on the Ashes, saying that’s a decision for new coach Kevin Walters.

“I just want to be on the squad first, and then I’ll let Kevin figure all that out,” he said.

Yeo’s immediate priority is Sunday’s do-or-die final against Canterbury at Accor Stadium.

He said there were plenty of similarities between the two sides, which is understandable given the Bulldogs signed coach Cameron Ciraldo from the Panthers in 2023, as well as a host of ex-Penrith players including Stephen Crichton, Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau and Jaeman Salmon.

“I just feel like we match up well with each other,” Yeo said. “I think we sort of both have similar styles. We want ball in play.

“We back our defences both sides and ... it just makes for an exciting match-up and exactly what you want for this time of season.

“It’ll be hotly contested, it’ll be a lot of ball and play I’d imagine, and both teams backing their defence. So it’ll be a wonderful challenge. I can’t wait.”

Next season? Off-contract Kennedy is not looking beyond this week

Robert Dillon

He is facing an uncertain future beyond the end of this season, but Cronulla fullback Will Kennedy says he’s looking no further than the end of this week as he strives to enhance his bargaining position by helping the Sharks stay alive in 2025.

Kennedy, the 28-year-old who made his debut for Cronulla in 2019 and has played 132 games for the club, is off contract at the end of this campaign and has no desire to leave the Shire.

Negotiations with the Sharks have been protracted, but Kennedy remains hopeful of a positive outcome, despite reports Cronulla’s salary cap is stretched to the limit.

“I’m still waiting, but I think everyone knows now that I want to stay around here,” he said.

“I’ve been here since I was 18, so yeah, just whatever happens. I’ll just focus on footy at the moment and I’ll let all that take care of itself.”

Kennedy admits it is not ideal to be playing in the finals while not knowing what is in store for him next season, but he isn’t “getting too stressed” about the situation.

“I think I’m sort of used to it now,” he said. “I’m just sort of waiting, if that’s what I’ve got to do.

“I’ve just got to focus on what’s happening now, and that’s probably just footy and enjoying the company of the boys while I’m here … I’m not too frustrated, but probably just for my family, just not knowing what’s going to happen. It would be nice to know.”

Kennedy, whose management have kept his options open by contacting the organisers of the proposed R360 rugby union competition, was his usual reliable self in Saturday night’s 20-10 victory over the Sydney Roosters in their elimination final.

It was his 25th game of the season, and he has been a model of consistency, averaging 154 running metres a game, scoring eight tries and delivering 12 try assists.

“I think it’s just from learning and experience coming up through the ranks as well, having the boys around me for a while now,” he said. “I know my role, and I’m just enjoying my footy and being happy with the boys. That’s what I’m here for.”

Saturday’s win against the Roosters allowed Cronulla to progress to a sudden-death final in Canberra on Saturday against a Raiders team left shattered after Sunday’s golden-point loss to Brisbane in the 94th minute.

Kennedy knows from personal experience how such a defeat can negatively impact a team. After Cronulla lost in golden point against North Queensland in the opening round of the 2022 play-offs, they were then thrashed by South Sydney a week later.

“Yeah, it was a tough one for them [Canberra], and even for the Broncos, playing that long,” Kennedy said. “We’ve had a final here as well, going for that long as well, so it would be a bit draining.

“But I think they’ll still be up for it. Finals footy, it’s a lot different to just a normal season, so I think we’ve just got to go there and expect anything. It’s do or die for both teams.”

Cronulla were underdogs against the Roosters last weekend and Kennedy indicated that suited them just fine.

“We’re just doing it our own way, and we’re just going about our business,” he said. “I think that’s the main thing we’ve got to do, stick to what works for us and play for each other.”

Kikau plays through fracture pain, twice

Dan Walsh

Canterbury suspect star back-rower Viliame Kikau has already played more than one full match with a fractured eye socket while also sweating the fitness of halfback Toby Sexton for their sudden-death showdown with Penrith next weekend.

The Bulldogs have already lost skipper Stephen Crichton (syndesmosis) and centre Enari Tuala to a leg fracture, though Bronson Xerri will return from a concussion lay-off against the Panthers.

Canterbury officials believe Kikau first suffered a fractured eye socket against the Sharks – he sported a black eye all of last week – rather than in the early exchanges of last Friday’s clash with Melbourne.

The Fijian enforcer has played through the pain for the past two weeks and is yet to be ruled out of the Panthers clash. The fracture is said to be stable and a matter of pain management for Kikau.

Sexton, meanwhile, is set for further scans on Monday in the hope of ruling out a sternum fracture. The Catalans-bound halfback suffered a knock to his chest against the Storm. His sternum issue adds another headache to Cameron Ciraldo’s playmaking conundrum. Sexton had performed strongly following the injury to Crichton, which opened the door for him to get onto the field.

Ciraldo can either keep Matt Burton and Lachlan Galvin in the halves, or shift Burton to centre for a Sexton-Galvin combination.

Winger Marcelo Montoya (ankle) is a chance to return against the Panthers, a welcome result given the Bulldogs have few options in their backline beyond reserve winger Blake Wilson. Should Sexton be ruled out, out-of-favour hooker Reed Mahoney would come into contention for a bench recall.

Penrith have reported a clean bill of health out of their win over the Warriors, with Nathan Cleary handing goalkicking duties to Dylan Edwards due to a cork he picked up in the second half.

The club holds no concerns about Cleary backing up against Canterbury or being hampered at training throughout the week. Hooker Mitch Kenny is expected to return from a hamstring injury.

NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now.