Mitchell Pearce opens up on move to Super League club Catalans
Mitchell Pearce is a good guy with a patchy knowledge of French current affairs as he reveals in this exclusive interview with Dean Ritchie.
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He leaves Australia having attracted more scrutiny and pressure than any player over the past 20 years with Mitchell Pearce declaring: “I haven’t been perfect — I’ve made mistakes.”
Pearce, in his last interview before leaving for France, has played 15 years of NRL under excruciating focus, his behaviour and performances on and off the field being observed, examined and dissected by a ravenous media.
Despite being criticised for his performances, predominantly at State of Origin level, and having committed several well-documented off-field indiscretions, Pearce has called on NRL fans to remember him as a “good person” who “owned” his errors.
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In an exclusive interview with News Corp, Pearce said: “If ever I did the wrong thing I always tried to put my hand up and own it. There was no other option.
“Look, I haven’t been perfect. No doubt I’ve made mistakes. We all make mistakes here and there and I suppose when you’ve got a profile these things get a fair bit more attention.
“I’m someone, good or bad, who has always created a fair few headlines, for whatever reason, who knows? That goes above me. I am a social person. Different personalities attract different things.
“But I have done plenty of good things and I like to see myself as a good person in the world. I do lots of good things for my family and friends.
“There is a lot of positive stuff you get out of the game as well. I was raised to be a good person and every day I try to be the best person I can. I’m there for my family and friends and have always been a good teammate.
“I’m forever grateful for not only what rugby league has done for me but also my family. We are blessed to have been in the game and for what we have gotten from the game. We’re very grateful.”
Pearce, who departs for a three-year stint with Catalans just after Christmas, will enjoy relative anonymity in Perpignan compared to the intolerable spotlight he has been forced to endure at the Roosters and Knights.
Pearce will now find peace.
“It will be nice,” Pearce said. “But footy is footy and pressure is pressure so I am still over there to win games in Super League. I will give the same commitment I always give and be as focused as I can be. I haven’t experienced France but I’m looking to indulge in a new culture.
“I want to become a bit more worldly, experience new things, I’ve never really left the NRL bubble. I’ve had such a good 15 years, it was a blessing. But I want to enjoy a new culture and meet new people.
“I’ve got in touch with some of the boys playing over there, their captain, Ben Garcia, has reached out and has been really welcoming. Sam Tomkins (Catalans fullback), I’ve had a few chats with him along with Jimmy (Maloney) and Josh Drinkwater. And Steve McNamara, the coach, he has been accommodating. I will have plenty of support when I get there.
“But first and foremost is winning a comp for Catalans. They have a great side and I want to help the club and players, the younger boys, especially. As always, I will give 100 per cent and see where it takes me.”
Told the French people can be offhand, Pearce said: “I will fit in then.”
Pearce has played under some of rugby league’s finest coaches and played with and against the game’s greatest players. He has knowledge he wants to share.
“I think being an assistant coach or doing stuff with the halves is something I’d be really passionate about, for sure,” Pearce said. “I have a real passion for the game, it’s what I have loved since I was born into rugby league.
“Every second of the day I have spent holding and trying to get better as a player. I’d love to give back to the game at some point but I’m on this new journey over in France for the next couple of years and I will give it everything I’ve got.”
Pearce was reluctant to specify which player should replace him at halfback for Newcastle but was adamant Kalyn Ponga would be an instant success at five-eighth.
“’K’ still wants to stay at fullback but there’s no doubt he can play five-eighth. He is so skilful and the way the game is going now, he could play a good game at five-eighth. It’s whether that works best for the dynamics of the team I suppose,” Pearce said. “It might get Kalyn more involved.
“Who plays halfback? That is a hard one to comment on. I just want what’s best for the club. I thought ‘Brooksy’ (Luke Brooks) would have been a great option, purely for himself, but I’m sure the Tigers are building and they need him there as well. It will be interesting to see what the Knights do. I wish nothing but the best for Newcastle.”
Through the efforts of his accountant, Roy Spagnolo, Pearce has just spent two days visiting the Riverina town of Griffith where he has promoted and educated kids about rugby league.
“Mitch came to Griffith to say goodbye before he goes to France,” said Spagnolo, based in Griffith. “We did a training session with the Griffith under 12s touch rep team and Mitch also gave them a motivational talk.
“(Souths forwards) Cam Murray and Liam Knight were here last week and the week before that Jack Wighton was here. It’s been a good promotion for the town.”
Why Pearce had to go
— Michael Carayannis
When Mitchell Pearce knocked on Adam O’Brien’s door the Newcastle coach knew his star playmaker’s time in the NRL was over. Now with some time to digest Pearce’s abrupt exit O’Brien speaks with Michael Carayannis about how life will look in Newcastle without his former captain, where Kalyn Ponga will play plus those Luke Brooks rumours.
*****
O’Brien had heard the rumblings surrounding Pearce’s future after Newcastle were eliminated from the premiership race.
But it wasn’t until Pearce fronted at O’Brien’s home that he knew his star halfback had played his last game for the club.
“The first I heard about it was in late October,” O’Brien said. “We’ve moved as quickly as we could for both parties to have some sort of resolution.
“I know he copped a bit of flak for the last game but it was only two games before that he carried us through to beat the Titans.
“I bear no ill-feelings towards him. I coach the human before the person. I could see it in his face. He was genuine.
“I respected him and that’s when I was comfortable with the decision.
“He said he could get on board and see out his final year of his contract but I could just tell it was going to wear him down.”
Ponga’s future
Ex-Newcastle coach Nathan Brown flirted with moving Ponga to the halves at the start of 2019. Despite suggestions otherwise, O’Brien has no intention of switching the Maroons fullback to cover for Pearce.
“Kalyn will play fullback for us,” O’Brien said.
“We’ve designed it so he gets more quality ball and we’re looking at ways to integrate him into the game more.
“I see a hunger in him that he still wants to get more out of himself from the fullback position. He is our one at this stage.”
Half shootout
The Knights added St George Illawarra’s Adam Clune in the off-season. O’Brien predicts Clune and Phoenix Crossland will battle it out to partner Jake Clifford in the halves.
“At this stage, we will fight it out between Clune and Crossland,” O’Brien said.
“Adam has led all our fitness testing, applied himself and talks really well in meetings. “Everything we wanted to get from him we have. He will accelerate the development of our younger guys. I’ve been impressed with Phoenix.
“He thrived in the environment in Queensland and got better and better. He has a new attitude.
“The way we’ve designed our attack is not rely on a dominant seven. It will feature around Jayden Brailey and Kalyn. That will help fill the void of Mitchell.”
The Knights have continually been linked to Tigers half Brooks. Brooks reported to Tigers training last week with the club adamant they will not release him.
O’Brien said he has had no conversations about trying to entice Brooks to the club.
Other changes
O’Brien has slated Kurt Mann to take on Connor Watson’s No. 13 jersey after Watson returned to the Roosters.
He also nominated youngster Simi Sasagi as the bench utility and had been “really impressed” by giant winger Dominic Young.
There has also been a mass turnover of staff with ex-Panthers Hayden Knowles and Craig Catterick among the changes.
O’Brien said the team were no longer content with just making the finals after successive week one exits.
“The staff have some big game experience,” O’Brien said. “I feel a lot lighter already where I haven’t got my hands in every department.”
POTENTIAL ROUND ONE TEAM
1 Kalyn Ponga
2 Dominic Young
3 Dane Gagai
4 Bradman Best
5 Hymel Hunt
6 Jake Clifford
7 Adam Clune/ Phoenix Crossland
8 Jacob Saifiti
9 Jayden Brailey
10 Daniel Saifiti
11 Tyson Frizell
12 Mitch Barnett
13 Kurt Mann
14 Simi Sasagi
15 David Klemmer
16 Sauaso Sue
17 Lachlan Fitzgibbon
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Originally published as Mitchell Pearce opens up on move to Super League club Catalans
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