There is no doubt the Melbourne Storm breathed a deep sigh of relief when Jahrome Hughes pledged his allegiance to the club, reportedly agreeing to a four-year extension to remain in Melbourne.
The former Dally M winner is as important to the Storm’s continued success as any of their superstars, but signings like these often come with a cost.
Twenty-two-year-old Jonah Pezet, a highly regarded junior NSW Origin representative, is capable of playing either halfback or five-eighth.
While Pezet recently signed a four-year extension himself, it included a get-out clause should Hughes re-sign, making it hard to see how he doesn’t now explore the open market.
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The Newcastle Knights had previously approached Pezet in an attempt to lure him to the Hunter, and he could still be a viable option to partner incoming recruit Dylan Brown.
Speaking of Brown, his move also leaves a major hole in the halves at the Parramatta Eels, with coach Jason Ryles openly admitting the club is still figuring out who will partner Mitchell Moses.
The Eels not only have a clear vacancy for a playmaker like Pezet, but with Brown’s departure — along with several others — they now have the cap space to table a lucrative offer.
While those two clubs have already shown interest, there are others with glaring needs who could enter the race quickly.
The St George Illawarra Dragons have endured ongoing issues in the halves, with recruit Lachlan Ilias demoted to reserve grade, rookie King-Togia yet to cement his place, and doubts lingering over whether Kyle Flanagan is a long-term solution at halfback.
What makes a Dragons approach more intriguing is the fact they’ve previously shown interest in Storm utility Tyran Wishart — another halves option who may be looking for a bigger opportunity.
If Melbourne opt to prioritise Wishart over Pezet, it would make sense for the Dragons to shift their attention to Pezet instead.
Adding to the complexity is that Cameron Munster will be 32 next season and is expected to receive massive offers, with the Perth Bears reportedly prepared to offer him a blank cheque to become their marquee signing.
Craig Bellamy and the Storm will soon face a major decision, as only one of Munster, Pezet, or Wishart can realistically partner Hughes in the halves moving forward.
If Munster stays, it will almost certainly come at the expense of at least one — if not both — of Pezet or Wishart.
Both players have been valuable squad members in recent seasons but are approaching stages in their careers where regular first-grade football will be their priority.
It’s a scenario the Storm know all too well, as the downside of sustained success is the eventual impossibility of retaining or playing everyone each week.
Tough calls have been made before, with club favourites like the Bromwich brothers, Tohu Harris, and Nicho Hynes among those who had to be let go.
The Storm, however, have consistently managed to make the right choices and remain among the competition’s most successful clubs under Bellamy’s leadership despite the annual player turnover.
That said, interest in their squad is set to reach an all-time high come November, and with a need to also re-sign key figures like Ryan Papenhuyzen and Xavier Coates, casualties are inevitable.
Bellamy’s looming decision comes down to sticking with Queensland Origin captain Munster or ushering in a new era built around younger playmakers.
It’s a fascinating dilemma — and one that could shape the landscape of multiple clubs for years to come.