‘He’s a work in progress’: Ryles calls for calm as Pezet tears Broncos apart

Parramatta Eels coach Jason Ryles has cautioned against heaping expectations on Jonah Pezet to embody the finished product in the aftermath of the rising star’s demolition job of the Brisbane Broncos.

Pezet gave Broncos fans a harsh glimpse of what he intends to bring to Brisbane next year, as he orchestrated Parramatta’s 40-32 boilover of his future outfit at Suncorp Stadium, and ensure the reigning premiers remained winless in their title defence.

This was one of the more bizarre encounters to witness. There were moments of magic, horrifying defensive efforts, and stories of young blossoming talent standing up to their more seasoned and celebrated counterparts.

Pezet was one of the latter, his four try assists only bettered by scoring the final try of the match in front of his future home crowd.

The former Melbourne Storm halfback will arrive at Red Hill on a three-year deal from next season to replace the retiring Adam Reynolds after one year with the Eels, and his clinic for the Eels made the Broncos’ left-edge defence look completely hapless.

“He’s a work in progress, and we knew he was when he came to the club. But there are some other parts of his game we need to work on as well, and he’s really aware of that,” Ryles said.

“He’s 20 games into his career, and we’re really aware of that and happy with where he’s at.

“But like every player in our squad, he’s got things to work on, and we’ll get back to training on Monday and do that.”

His short passing game provided two tries for edge forward Kelma Tuilagi, while his grubber through the line could not be reeled in by Broncos prop Payne Haas in cover as hooker Ryley Smith touched down to score. Pezet’s flurry came after Brisbane took a 14-point lead after tries to Reece Walsh, Kotoni Staggs and Payne Haas.

A pinpoint grubber through traffic in the second half to set up Sean Russell then wrestled back the lead for the Eels, and despite pre-game threats he would be targeted heavily in defence, Pezet missed just one tackle while making 11, including a try-saver on Jordan Riki.

With a minute on the clock he won the race to a loose ball to score, punting the Steeden into the crowd in a moment of pure jubilation.

Pezet will be handed a colossal task of filling Reynolds’ shoes from next season, who was forced from the field with six minutes remaining clutching painfully at his ribs following a heavy collision.

But based on the signs at Suncorp Stadium, Pezet has the class, toughness and character to step up to the plate.

Rocks and diamonds Walsh

Just 20 minutes into the contest, fans would have been forgiven for believing fullback Reece Walsh was about to conjure a special display. Instead, it was another rocks or diamonds outing.

The dynamic No.1 ran with vigor in the initial exchanges, eventually throwing a dummy and slicing through at close range to score Brisbane’s first try of the season.

But as momentum began to swing in Parramatta’s favour, mistakes crept into his game – kicking out on the full after Smith’s try, to give the Eels the territory for Tuilagi to cross straight away.

Come his first assignment in the second half, and Walsh made a meal of a tame clearance kick to turn possession back over for Iongi to cross for his second.

His linebreak in the lead up to Mam setting up Staggs’ second with a neat chip over the top gave Brisbane hope of salvaging their initial dominance, and his shock chip and chase for himself to score his second then thrust his team back in front.

But ultimately, he and his teammates were far too hot and cold to register their first win of their premiership defence.

In contrast, Iongi – a Brisbane product before joining the Penrith system – was brilliant throughout the night, adding 162 running metres, two linebreaks and five tackles busts to his pair of tries.

“As long as he keeps improving,” Ryles said, when asked what his expectations of Iongi were.

“He gives himself every chance to do that. He comes in every day, he prepares well, he works hard, he works with our spine … and he’s a really good kid. He’s exactly the type of player we want at our club.”

Defensive horror show

It appeared the Broncos were on track for an emphatic triumph, as they sought to cast aside the criticism which had been levelled their way following last week’s limp defeat to Penrith.

But for all the mastery they showed with the ball – Walsh looking ominous from the outset – their left-edge defence was a train wreck.

Brisbane made just two tackles inside their own 20-metre line in the first half, yet Pezet, Tuilagi and Iongi completely exposed Brisbane five-eighth Ezra Mam and centre Gehamat Shibasaki, who combined for nine costly missed tackles.

“It takes a team to have a strong defensive line, there are all little things that go in – whether you’re winning the ruck, whether you get your third man back, the adjustments, so we’re definitely going to have a look at that on both sides,” Broncos coach Michael Maguire said.

“Yes there were a few issues on the left, but as a group and as a team, they all help each other – that’s what a defensive line is – and we’re just not hitting the mark there. We were up [14] points, and for whatever reason we softened, and teams find you.”

While the Broncos’ discipline with the ball had improved, completing 19 of 20 sets in the opening 40 minutes after making 19 errors against the Panthers last week, their work off the ball was diabolical.

Eventually, that meant mistakes came back into Brisbane’s game – finishing with 11 by full-time.

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