The Broncos got a close-up look on Thursday night at the brilliance Jonah Pezet will bring to Brisbane at season's end.
The only problem was Pezet's cameo at Suncorp Stadium left the Broncos with their maroon and gold dacks around their ankles.
In a wildly high-scoring affair won by Parramatta 40-32, Pezet was the best player afield.
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Playing at five-eighth, the 23-year-old set up four tries and scored one of his own to pilot Parramatta to their first win of the season.
His sparkling performance buried his ordinary showing against Melbourne in round one, in which Jason Ryles' men were thrashed 52-4.
His performance has also left no doubt he is a gun half in the making, which shouldn't surprise given he guided an under-19s NSW Blues side to victory in 2022 with a scintillating man-of-the-match performance.
On that occasion, legendary halfback Andrew Johns described the rising star as "sensational" and "class".
On Thursday night, Immortal-in-waiting Cameron Smith was singing Pezet's praises.
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"That's lovely attacking football," Smith said on the Nine broadcast when Pezet set up a try for second-rower Kelma Tuilagi in the 33rd minute.
Pezet scooted onto a ball inside the Broncos' 20-metre zone, drew Ezra Mam and Aublix Tawha, carved out a hole in the defence on his outside and popped a pass to Tuilagi, who steamed onto it to grab his second try of the night.
"There was a late man back in the line — it was Xavier Willison — which means they were one man short on that left-hand side, the Broncos," Smith said.
"They [the Eels] picked it beautifully. It was Aublix Tawha. He was caught really short … and they [Parramatta] found the space.
"Lovely footy."
For another of Pezet's try assists, he threw a dummy and stalled, bringing Brisbane's defence to a stand-still, then threaded a grubber in behind that Sean Russell pounced on to score.
Parramatta coach Ryles navigated with caution questions about Pezet's glittering performance, steering clear of plaudits.
"He is a work in progress," Ryles deadpanned.
"There is some other parts of his game he needs to work on, and he is aware of that.
"Whilst that is really pleasing for him, he's got some areas of his game we want to keep working hard on."
Pezet's halves partner, NSW Blues star Mitchell Moses, said he was enjoying playing alongside him.
"He's been good. We both love our footy and talk footy all the time. It has been a pretty easy transition," Moses said.
Pezet will join Brisbane on a three-year deal from 2027 after a one-year stint with Parramatta, which follows an apprenticeship under star halves Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes at Melbourne.
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