Why Mitchell Pearce owes his State of Origin recall to Newcastle

Find out why Mitchell Pearce’s risky move to Newcastle helped the star halfback work his way back to the top of rugby league and into State of Origin.

NSW's Mitchell Pearce during NSW Origin training and media at Coogee Oval, Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

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With his life as a Rooster over, Mitchell Pearce received text messages from senior Cronulla players.

Pearce's phone buzzed with an invite to play with representatives including Wade Graham, Paul Gallen, Matt Moylan and Andrew Fifita.

Replaced by Cooper Cronk and released from Bondi with two years left on his contract in November 2017, cruising into a top-four club at the Sharks seemed an obvious lure for Pearce.

He also had then-Manly coach Trent Barrett showing him around Narrabeen.

Barrett put a carrot to play beside Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans under Pearce’s nose.

And then there was Newcastle.

Desperate for a major scalp after collecting their third consecutive wooden-spoon, the Knights hurled a salvo in the shape of $4 million deal down the M4 at Pearce.

Pearce could have gone anywhere but he chose Newcastle. AAP Image/Darren Pateman.

To most, joining the Knights was career suicide for Pearce.

A dead-end and the fast-lane to kissing any faint hope he had of ever representing NSW again goodbye.

But not Pearce.

As he revealed to The Sunday Telegraph, if not for Newcastle, he may never have got back in Blue.

“Newcastle has turned me into an Origin player,” Pearce told The Sunday Telegraph.

Pearce then pauses and makes certain that his comments aren’t taken as a shot at the Roosters.

“I had so many great coaches at the Roosters,” Pearce said.

“But I reckon I’ve learned some finer things on ball-playing and leading as a halfback and certainly that has come from playing with a younger side last year, to now with the addition of experience and class in our team.

“With different combinations, different levels of talent and points of players’ careers, I’ve learnt different styles of footy.

Could this be Mitchell Pearce’s time at last? Picture by Brett Costello.

“And that has helped me become the player that everyone can see.

“Everyone has been saying that I’m playing some of my better football.

“But it’s a lot to do with the way I’m playing at Newcastle with the extra responsibility and the way Brownie (coach Nathan Brown) is coaching.”

With a rotation of rookies around him be it at fullback or five-eighth with Kalyn Ponga, Connor Watson, Mason Lino or Brock Lamb last year, Pearce has had no choice but to mature and lead, where at the Roosters, that leadership was spread around.

Pearce nods too when asked if his growth as a person outside the Bondi bubble and the NRL fishbowl in Sydney, has aided his progression both as a person and as a player?

“Yeah, you could probably say that’s fair,” Pearce said.

Test halfback Johnathan Thurston and Gallen were two players who questioned Pearce’s move to Newcastle.

Gallen, the former Blues skipper, said that not only did he hope Pearce would steer the Blues to victory on Wednesday, but conceded he is pleasantly surprised that the move to the Knights has paid off.

“I was one who doubted a move to Newcastle would be a good one for Mitchell's career,” Gallen said.

Pearce will play his 19th Origin. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

“I openly questioned it. But the offer was one Pearcey couldn't knock back and now, it’s proved to be a blessing for his career.

“He’s spent a year helping developing the club and then with off-season recruits for 2019, he’s turned that club from a battling one into a genuine top-eight side.

“I'd love nothing more than to see Pearcey get what he deserves on Wednesday night and for the people of NSW.”

Pearce played 18 Origins during his 239 career games with the Roosters.

He has won just five of those 18 appearances for NSW.

On Wednesday night, he’ll play his first Origin as a Newcastle Knight and attempt to win his first Origin series.

Pearce of two years ago would be a ball of stress and anxiety.

But not today, he’s jokey, calm and even suggesting that given the Blues dominance a fortnight ago in Perth, his role to victory will be simple.

“I've got the easy job to try and come in and hopefully steer the boys around and do well,” Pearce said.

“I feel like I'm a consistent player week in, week out for my club and when you're playing good footy, you never know what happens and that's why I'm here.”

Originally published as Why Mitchell Pearce owes his State of Origin recall to Newcastle