Mitchell Pearce: Roosters star back from rehab and ready to cop punishment for lewd video

DISGRACED Sydney Roosters star Mitchell Pearce has spoken to The Daily Telegraph this morning about his time in a Thai rehabilitation clinic and what the future holds.

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DISGRACED Sydney Roosters star Mitchell Pearce has spoken to The Daily Telegraph this morning about his time in a Thai rehabilitation clinic and what the future holds.

Pearce, 26, spent a month in the northern Thailand facility after a drunken Australia Day incident when he was filmed simulating a sex act with a dog.

He will meet with the powerful Roosters board this week to be told of his punishment — a possible six-game suspension and $50,000 fine.

Sydney Roosters star Mitchell Pearce spent the morning conducting interviews. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Pearce, 26, looked fresh-faced as he emerged from Emirates Airways flight 418 from Bangkok at 8.30am yesterday to be greeted by his mother Terri and father Wayne, the former Test player and current NRL commissioner.

Pearce said making amends with family, friends and teammates was one of his top priorities.

“All my actions were terrible (and) there will be guys in there who have the shits,” Pearce said.

“I needed to suffer for a bit. That’s something that I’ve come back expecting so I’ll be letting the boys know I will be in it 100 percent when I go back.”

Speaking of his time away, Pearce said it had been a tough four weeks.

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“I didn’t have my phone over there and when I got back to Sydney I was getting a lot of messages from a lot of my good mates,” he said.

The video showd Pearce simulating sex acts with a dog. Picture: DiiMEX

He also attempted to kiss a woman who rejected his advances. Picture: DiiMEX

“That meant the world to me. It’s funny when you’re away how much that makes you feel special. I have no doubt that in due time the boys will forgive but I feel like I have to work really hard.”

Pearce said he spoke on the phone to Roosters boss nick Politis briefly yesterday.

I gave him a call just to fill him in basically and explain the situation. Nick was great the whole time and Robbo as well,” he said.

“They’re filthy obviously. Of course I would be. But they have been supportive and I appreciate that support no doubt because they could’ve easily said ‘see you later’.”

The Roosters star also spoke this morning of his problems with alcohol.

Mitchell Pearce greeted by his parents Terri and Wayne. Picture: Gregg Porteous

“It’s an ongoing thing with alcohol and I’m not going to hide away from the fact that I like a beer - it’s been a big part of my life since I was 18,” Pearce said.

“For me it (alcohol) hasn’t had positive effects at all - it’s affected me, my family and my club.

“I came back from the rehab centre under no illusions... and I learned off a lot of people that I met.

“I was disappointed with the way things worked out but I’ve taken total ownership of my mistakes.

“I’ve come back clearer and learned a lot about myself. Emotionally I’ve needed to grow. It won’t go away overnight but the hard work starts now.”

Pearce used another interview this morning to refute claims he had used drugs the night the video was taken and also denied he urinated on himself or furniture at the home where the video was shot.

Mitchell Pearce leaving his house in Cremorne after the Australia Day video surfaced. Picture: Adam Yip

He also said he didn’t realise he was being filmed and the first he knew of any footage was on January 27 when Roosters coach Trent Robinson called to tell him.

Roosters chief executive John Lee was also on hand to greet Pearce at the airport yesterday.

The club’s management is working closely with the NRL Integrity Unit to determine Pearce’s penalty.

“I deserve the punishment, I totally humiliated myself and a lot of other people,” a humble Pearce said yesterday.

“I’m not hiding from anything, I’m here to cop whatever comes and we’ll just wait and see what happens.

“I haven’t had a phone or TV for four weeks so it’s been a bit of isolation. I received a lot of text messages today which meant the world to me.

Pearce fronted the media in a Surry Hills park to apologise before he left for rehab. Picture: Craig Greenhill

“Whatever my punishment is, I’ll be copping it on the chin. I love footy and it’s something that I’ve missed a lot.”

Mr Lee revealed yesterday that there was a ­Sydney-based branch of the Thai drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic where Pearce spent a month seeking treatment. Pearce will be asked to regularly attend the facility.

“It’s a rehabilitation centre, as I understand, that actually has a branch in Sydney,” Lee said.

“The integration is quite important in terms of his ongoing rehabilitation. That was part of the reason why that facility was chosen.

“He will still have day business and other things that need to occur. This is the start of a longer journey. This isn’t the end of the journey.”

Mr Lee said Pearce’s fate would be decided this week.

Roosters players at a boat party on Australia Day.

“As when you have an incident in the game, there will be a meeting of the board to talk through the next steps and we will be in consultation with the NRL during that process,” he said.

“I don’t think it is a matter of weeks before we know the next steps, it will at least be a couple of days before we will get more clarity about what will happen next.”

Pearce made headlines after phone footage caught him trying to kiss a woman, despite her rejecting his advances. He then grabbed her dog and simulated­ having sex with it.