The 2026 NRL season is shaping up to be one of the most entertaining and wide open years yet. 

Last season proved that the NRL is only getting more competitive, and with the player shuffle in full swing, the next level of footy is coming.

Every team, except for the Cronulla Sharks, have new player signings for the 2026 season. 

Now is the perfect time for reinvention and refinement, allowing the bottom-tier clubs to redefine their teams and the top-tier clubs to elevate themselves to the next level. 

Here are Zero Tackle's top five recruits who could change their new clubs for the better in 2026 and beyond.

Jonah Pezet to the Parramatta Eels

Jonah Pezet joins the Parramatta Eels this season after activating an early release from his debut NRL club, the Melbourne Storm.

The young playmaker will only be at the blue and gold for 2026; from then, he is set to move on to the Brisbane Broncos under a three-year deal. 

While some fans have questioned the logic behind a one-year ‘stopover' signing, the Pezet–Mitchell Moses partnership could be exactly what Parramatta need as they continue developing their younger talent.

Last season, the Eels desperately struggled with the absence of Moses in the top half of the season.

NRL Qualifying Final – Storm v Bulldogs
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Jonah Pezet of the Stormis tackled during the NRL Qualifying Final match between the Melbourne Storm and Canterbury Bulldogs at AAMI Park on September 12, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

This saw them unable to break away from the bottom half of the ladder despite their impressive late run. 

Although Moses will still be a vital part of the squad this year, the unique versatility of Pezet in the halves allows him to act as an insurance policy for the Eels if Moses were to become unavailable.

This weekend's trial will be an early indicator of whether Pezet and Joash Papali'i are equipped to guide their team to victory without their captain.

Pezet is also expected to settle quickly into the team, having already formed a strong relationship with head coach Jason Ryles during their time at Melbourne.

Rather than short-sighted, this short-term deal looms as a smart opportunity for a young, dynamic playmaker to combine with an elite halfback and push Parramatta back into the top eight.