Newcastle won’t make a play for James Roberts as they focus on retaining star halfback and captain Mitchell Pearce
Newcastle has been linked to enigmatic flyer James Roberts, but the Knights won’t pursue his signature as they focus on retaining star half Mitchell Pearce.
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Newcastle won’t make a bid for former Origin flyer James Roberts after he was released by South Sydney this week as the Knights focus on retaining star halfback and captain Mitchell Pearce.
The Knights had been linked to Roberts after he mutually agreed to leave the Rabbitohs on compassionate grounds.
However, a source at Newcastle confirmed the club had no interest in signing the enigmatic flyer.
The Knights will instead put a lot of the club’s energy into re-signing Pearce on a long-term deal.
The premiership-winning No.7 doesn’t come off contract until the end of 2021, but the club is keen to re-sign him as rumours circle around a Sydney Roosters return for the experienced playmaker.
Newcastle officials plan to meet with their halfback in the coming weeks to discuss an extension beyond next season.
Pearce addressed his future at the Knights when speaking on ABC Radio in Newcastle last week.
“I haven‘t been offered a contract yet beyond next year, and obviously there’s negotiations to go on, but I’m 100 per cent committed to the club,” Pearce said.
“I‘ve come up here, I love the club, I love living in Newcastle.
“So I‘m contracted next year, I’m looking forward to going to training, and I don’t want to go anywhere.”
Knights coach Adam O‘Brien also declared he would meet with Pearce soon to discuss extending his contract.
“He’s got a business and a wedding to plan at the moment,” O‘Brien told ABC Radio in Newcastle.
“I’ve assured him the club will be sitting down with him to work out his future, which I’m sure is going to be here with the Knights.
“That’s why we’re not rushing into anything until we can sit down with Mitchell and find out where he sees things and then where we see things.
“When he comes back, and everybody is comfortable, we’ll sit down and get it done.
“He’s on contract for next year – it will certainly be done before then.”
Newcastle has a further nine players off-contract at the end of the 2021 season, including Kurt Mann, Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Connor Watson.
The Knights have previously indicated the club is keen to secure a five-eighth, although Mann excelled in this position last season before multiple injuries forced him to play hooker.
Originally published as Newcastle won’t make a play for James Roberts as they focus on retaining star halfback and captain Mitchell Pearce