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Sport Nation
How Premiers' big signing could cost them a "young gun prodigy"
Sam Kosack • October 22nd, 2025 2:34 pm
Jonah Pezet’s arrival at Red Hill in 2027 may cost the club one of the highest-rated young prospects in the NRL.
The Broncos have had Coby Black earmarked as the long-term halfback at Red Hill after standout performances at halfback for Queensland in the Under 19 Origin series.
However, with Pezet expected to arrive in 2027, captain Adam Reynolds expected to retire then, and Ezra Mam locked up long-term, it means Black may be forced to wait longer for his turn in the top grade.
Black, a member of the Broncos’ top 30, is able to negotiate with rivals on November 1, with a number of clubs expected to vie for his services, potentially including any clubs that competed for Pezet.
Michael Carayannis expects Black to move on from the Broncos, under the assumption Pezet’s arrival is confirmed.
“The interesting one is this Coby Black, who's this young gun prodigy that has been earmarked for a long time to be the Broncos half, surely he doesn't stick around,” Carayannis said on SEN 1170 Drive.
“He's off contract at the end of next year… I'd be surprised if he even starts the season there.
“If I'm Brisbane, why would you keep him now?
“(You can) clear a little bit of cap space. You've still got Reynolds, Hunt, Mam, Billy Walters… did a great job when he went into the halves, so they don't need him.
“Does he potentially move on before?”
Carayannis also thinks Pezet’s arrival will solidify the exits of Adam Reynolds and incoming halfback Tom Duffy but believes Ben Hunt could still play on beyond his current contract.
Reynolds and Hunt are both contracted until the end of 2026, and given their age and recent premiership success, could call time on their illustrious careers, while Duffy arrives in Brisbane from 2026 on a one-year deal from the Cowboys.
“(Hunt’s) contracted for another year… there's definitely a chance he could retire but he's up until this year his body's been excellent,” Carayannis believes.
“(He) had that hamstring complaint, but before that he played almost 20+ games every season.
“You'd assume that both of them will pull the pin at the end of next year.
“I think this definitely forces Adam Reynolds's hand.
“It's essentially saying, Adam, if you want to play on, it's not gonna be in Brisbane because it'll be an Ezra Mam-Jonah Pezet combination.
“Ben Hunt has the ability and the luxury of being able to play at 9 and play at 14, if that's what you want to do so they could keep him there if he wanted to play on.
“(Duffy) might have thought that he was a chance of replacing Adam Reynolds, but his role probably doesn't change because he's the understudy.
“Maybe in the back of his mind he might have thought, if I impressed, (there’s a) chance that I could take over from Reynolds long term, and this puts an end to it.
Carayannis also believes the Pezet signing, described as a “mega-deal”, could also force out Gehamat Shibasaki.
Shibasaki signed with the club on a train-and-trial at the beginning of the season, before becoming a mainstay in Michael Maguire’s top side, ultimately seeing him become a premiership winner, and earn Origin and Kangaroos selection.
“They've got Staggs locked in. Shibisaki's off contract, he's a November 1 guy,” Carayannis said.
“You'd think it'd be almost impossible to keep him given the pay rise he's gonna get… and he needs to cash in because he hasn't been on great money throughout his career.
“You'd assume he'd be chasing a big contract and he deserves it.
“What about this 1-6-7 combination that Brisbane have locked in long term now? Walsh, Mam, Pezett, locked in long-term…and Mozer too.
“Brisbane now with that spine or those players locked in, they go back to Brisbane of old… who can now dominate.
“They're not going to win four in a row like Penrith have but they're going to be in the top 4 for a few years to come.”
