NRL contract news: Mitchell Pearce set to sign Knights contract extension

After a summer from hell, Mitchell Pearce is ready to put the pen to the paper - even though he’s sure to be unhappy with the deal.

Mitchell Pearce is set to take a huge pay cut when he signs an extension with the Knights. Picture: Knights Digital

Adam Reynolds might not be real happy that he’s been asked to take a one-year extension at Souths. But it looks like Mitchell Pearce is ready to put a summer from hell behind him by accepting a one-year extension at Newcastle.

The Knights are hoping they can sign off on Pearce’s new deal in the next week so it doesn’t become a further distraction ahead of what is going to be a very important year for all involved.

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But the reality is Pearce will cop a significant pay cut on his previous $1 million-a-season salary.

The Knights have been in ongoing discussions for months now with Pearce and his management but it is now at the pointy end of negotiations with both parties confident they are close to reaching an agreement.

As long as there are no late complications it should be signed off on before the start of the new season.

The Knights believe a one-year extension is a more than fair for a player who turns 32 in April, and it also gives Pearce security for at least two full seasons if he does the deal now.

Coach Adam O’Brien has maintained all along that Pearce is still wanted despite what happened over the summer, and the fact the club has signed North Queensland’s young playmaker Jake Clifford who arrives next year.

The plan is to keep Pearce at least until the end of next year and depending on his form they can renegotiate for a further extension next year.

Pearce is of course coming off a forgettable pre-season after his wedding to Kristen Scott was called off when he was caught out in texting scandal involving a female club staff member.

Mitchell Pearce had a pre-season from hell. Picture: AAP/Darren Pateman

Pearce also had to contend with losing the captaincy while undergoing minor thumb surgery for an injury that occurred during a wrestling drill.

The good news for Knights fans is that Pearce is said to be in a far better head space than he was a month back, and he is going to need to be if the Knights are to have any hope of cracking the top eight again this year.

While there is no question they have a really good pack and Tyson Frizell only adds to that, they are light on for experience in the outside backs compared to the best rosters and injuries to Kalyn Ponga and Blake Green don’t help.

Green is not expected back until between round five and eight after rupturing his ACL last season while Ponga will be sidelined for between one and four rounds with a shoulder injury. Edrick Lee is also out with a fractured foot for the first few rounds.

Newcastle take on premiers Melbourne in Albury on Saturday in the final trial that should give a realistic indication of where they are at heading into the season.

The Knights will also be missing Kurt Mann due to a family commitment while the Storm have pretty much named their strongest available squad with only Brenko Lee rested with a slight hamstring issue.