Newcastle Knights address Mitchell Pearce text scandal, as Tyson Frizell arrives at club

It was meant to be a day to celebrate the arrival of gun forward Tyson Frizell, but instead the Newcastle Knights had to address its latest scandal.

Mitchell Pearce will come back to training later in the week and address players. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

On a day where the focus was supposed to be on the arrival of the Newcastle Knights’ big signing Tyson Frizell, the club addressed its latest scandal.

General Manager of Football Danny Buderus given the job, only to say the club wouldn’t be “giving away too many details” about those flirty text messages involving captain Mitchell Pearce and a club employee.

“Definitely not ideal for the club, for both parties, but it is a private matter between two parties which will be left that way,” Buderus said.

But making clear, the skippers behaviour was not condoned at all by the club.

Danny Buderus, General Manager of Football at Newcastle Knights, addressed media about the Pearce scandal. Picture: Amy Ziniak

Mitchell Pearce and his fiance Kristin Scott. Picture: Instagram

“There are standards in all parts of our games and that behaviour is not acceptable,” he said.

Pearce was due to marry his fiance Kristin Scott in a lavish Byron Bay wedding on December 29 in-front of a guest list which included many of the NRL’s biggest names.

But just days before the event, it was cancelled.

While some guests were told Sydney’s coronavirus outbreak was to blame, The Sunday Telegraph reported it was over inappropriate text messages to a young female club employee.

It not only forced the cancellation of the wedding but has said to have created a split within the Knights playing group, with highly regarded forward Lachlan Fitzgibbon close friends with the long-time partner of the female employee.

Tyson Frizell on his first day as a Newcastle Knight on January 4. Picture: Amy Ziniak

“It’s an in-house club issue at the moment, the players have addressed it among themselves to move forward,” Buderus added.

“This incident is not taken lightly from the club, we have addressed it and want to put it behind us.”

Pearce will return to training later in the week, but will have the awkward task of fronting teammates.

“It definitely needs to be addressed, there’s no doubt about it, otherwise it could fester among the group and I think Mitchell would like it that way,” Buderus said.

“Anyone that walks into that group needs to understand what they’ve all gone through and what the club has gone through, the pressure it has been under in these 12 days and something needs to be said.”

The 31-year-old halfback’s captaincy also now under doubt, as the club explores all options.

Mitchell Pearce and his fiancee Kristin Scott have cancelled their wedding. Picture: Instagram

“Mitchell likes to be captain and if it was to go that way, it would hurt but there are a variety of things that could happen,” Buderus explained.

“For several months we’ve been looking at our leadership model within the club, Adam O’Brien a big believer of strong leadership.

“We’re still to really finalise those decisions which way we’re going to go with the leadership, we have some good candidates.

“We’re going to take our time and roll it out. We won’t be rushed.”

When questioned, Knights forward Daniel Saifiti was certain there was no rift between the playing group.

But shied away from whether he’d be comfortable with Pearce continuing as skipper.

“That’s not up to me, whatever they choose I am going to back their decision,” Saifiti said.

The blues representative happy himself to take on a bigger leadership role in 2021.

“The young tag has gone now and I feel I can help steer these young boys on and off the field,” he said.

“Definitely something I am interested in.”