Nathan Brown backs under fire playmaker Mitchell Pearce despite ‘mixed’ form

Nathan Brown concedes Mitchell Pearce’s form this year has been “mixed”, but says the Newcastle captain should not be singled out for the team’s lacklustre start.

Mitchell Pearce has struggled for form early in 2019. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

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Nathan Brown concedes Mitchell Pearce’s form this year has been “mixed”, but says the Newcastle captain should not be singled out for the team’s lacklustre start.

So much was expected of the Knights before the season kicked off.

But they go into Saturday’s clash against Manly coming off three straight defeats and having scored just 50 points in four games, the third worst attack of any NRL team.

Given Pearce is the chief playmaker, the pressure is mounting on him to take ownership and show why Newcastle can be a premiership force.

Mitchell Pearce has struggled for form early in 2019. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

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With Tom Trbojevic out injured, the Sea Eagles are at a significant disadvantage while Kalyn Ponga has returned from a family funeral in New Zealand and Brown said the livewire fullback was a certain starter.

Pearce was Newcastle’s hero against Manly in round one last year when he kicked the winning field goal in a golden point thriller.

But after close losses to Penrith and Canberra, Pearce certainly didn’t have one of his best games last week in the golden point loss to St George Illawarra, although you couldn’t question his effort.

Nathan Brown backed his playmaker to hit his straps. (AAP Image/Darren Pateman)

Pearce has been an easy target throughout his career whether it was playing for the Sydney Roosters or NSW, with the polarising No 7 almost always wearing the brunt of criticism when his side has struggled.

Some of it was warranted, a lot was not.

But after a honeymoon welcome at Newcastle last year, some fans are now growing restless, and are starting to single out the skipper’s form.

“He definitely hasn’t been as dominant as he was for us last year,” Brown said.

“There is a fair few (new) players in our squad.

Kalyn Ponga is a confirmed started after flying back to New Zealand for a funeral. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

“I am confident he will get himself going.

“He is certainly not going great but he is not going bad.”

Pearce’s consistency last year was highlighted by his top five finish in the Dally M Medal count despite only playing 15 games.

No doubt Ponga’s switch to five-eighth for the first three rounds this year had an impact on Pearce’s game as well as the Knights’ overall attack.

But Brown said another key factor was the heavy focus on defence throughout preseason, and he always expected the offence would take time to gel.

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Newcastle has only conceded 54 points so far, which places them fourth defensively overall.

But there is no doubt Saturday’s game is crucial to get their season back on track.

After five rounds last year Pearce and Ponga were the joint Dally M leaders along with Gareth Widdop, but this season Pearce is yet to poll a vote.

Brown concedes there is growing pressure on everyone at the club.

“There is no doubt we are in a business where if you lose games the pressure mounts,” Brown said.

“The big thing is for us every year we want to get better, and if we keep getting better we will get to where we need to get to. That is the challenge.

“Even though the ladder doesn’t look great I think we are in far better shape this year than what we were last year.”

Originally published as Nathan Brown backs under fire playmaker Mitchell Pearce despite ‘mixed’ form