Updated July 6, 2026 — 3:07pm,first published 1:02pmJonah Pezet didn’t need reminding.His match-winning try in Parramatta’s upset of high-flying Manly on Sunday put a bow on his first NRL game in 13 weeks.Two hamstring tears, three NSW Cup games and a suspension for a hip-drop tackle came in between for one of the most anticipated signings of 2026.It will be a touch of relief surely for the Eels and Broncos, who Pezet will join on a three-year deal next season, after a Parramatta sojourn short on highlights so far.And a touch of pride too for Pezet after he grubbered, regathered and scored with 10 minutes to play, before adding a late field goal to sink the Sea Eagles.“It’s no secret that it’s been a pretty tough season, not just for the club with injuries, but myself,” Pezet said.“I haven’t played NRL since round five. That’s a long time and there have been some tough days. But the performance staff have been really good looking after me and the boys as well [have been] wrapping their arms around me.Jonah Pezet celebrates his match-winning try against Manly.NRL Imagery“We’ve got a fair rehab crew in there and those boys are doing it a lot tougher than I am … I’ve been pretty lucky to be here and have people like Rylesy [coach Jason Ryles]. Obviously, he’s got a team to coach, he’s got 35 other blokes to worry about. I try not to be a burden and walk in every day and not [drop] my bottom lip and be a burden on others.“He’s been really good for me, Rylesy, with the confidence he brings, and he keeps my job really simple.”Ronald Volkman and Jonah Pezet celebrate the Eels’ win on Sunday.Getty ImagesPezet, 23, was the hottest halves prospect on the market in October when he signed first a lucrative deal with the Broncos to succeed Adam Reynolds next season, and then a one-year contract with Parramatta.The Eels had high hopes his halves partnership with skipper Mitchell Moses could spark a finals return. Instead, it has been back-up half Ronald Volkman who has impressed most in another forgettable club campaign trashed by one of the NRL’s worst injury tolls.Pezet’s signing was always designed as a bridge between Dylan Brown’s exit and the development of young playmakers such as Joash Papalii, Lincoln Fletcher and Lorenzo Talataina, while Volkman remains off-contract.It was Pezet’s commanding finals outing for Melbourne last year – when his game management shone bright against the Bulldogs – that prompted his pursuit of greener pastures. Until then, the plan had been for him to return to the Storm in 2027 after a loan stint elsewhere.On Sunday it was Pezet’s footballing instincts that shone brightest given he had been cramping in backplay before gambling on a play-one grubber that paid off handsomely.“I’ve just been doing that since I was a kid,” Pezet said.“That’s just my footy brain, and I think if you look back, round five I put us under pressure doing that: I kicked one dead and [the Tigers] went up the other end and scored. I put us under pressure for the whole game.“[Eels assistant] Nathan Brown coaches it in us – you learn from your mistakes, you take your lessons and you do it better … it’s no secret that we haven’t won enough footy games this year. We want to finish the year strong and I want to finish the year strong individually.”Tigers skipper Koroisau receives verdict on pectoral injuryWests Tigers skipper Api Koroisau will avoid season-ending surgery on a pectoral injury in a significant boost for the joint-venture’s hopes of qualifying for the finals.Wests Tigers captain Api Koroisau will play again this season.NRL ImageryKoroisau will only miss a month of play after scans revealed what the Tigers described as a “low-grade strain of the muscle tendon junction” in his pectoral, which forced the veteran No.9 off midway through Saturday’s loss to the Dragons.The Tigers are scrambling to stay in touch with the top eight after the shock defeat to St George Illawarra but have a favourable draw in the coming weeks. After hosting the second-placed Warriors at Campbelltown on Friday night, the Tigers face bottom-eight sides Canterbury (away), Canberra (away) and Parramatta (home) before a round 23 bye.Koroisau is targeting the Eels game for a return, while playmaker Jarome Luai will be back from delayed concussion symptoms against the Warriors. Back-rower Samuela Fainu is pushing to get back from a long-term foot injury this week as well.Young hooker Josese Lanyon shapes as Koroisau’s replacement at dummy half against the Warriors, with Jock Madden and Latu Fainu in line as bench utility options.The Tigers have slumped to 12th on the ladder – four points adrift of the eighth-placed Rabbitohs – after a slew of big-name injuries and a 2-7 losing run since thumping Canberra in late-April.From our partners