Roosters half-back Mitchell Pearce’s Origin hopes and future unclear after night out ended in arrest
MITCHELL Pearce has issued a statement via his lawyer denying any “inappropriate interaction” with a female patron at a Kings Cross nightclub.
MITCHELL Pearce has issued a statement via his lawyer denying any “inappropriate interaction” with a female patron at a Kings Cross nightclub on Saturday night.
The statement which appeared on Channel 9 news on Monday night reads:
“There has been speculation and innuendo in the media which creates the impression that our client had an inappropriate interaction with a female patron at a nightclub over the weekend. That speculation is false - Henry Davis York.”
CCTV footage shows the Roosters halfback lunging at a women in a yellow dress before sitting back down in his chair.
As the woman neared Pearce, he reached for her again and can be seen laughing before the woman approaches a police officer who was doing a routine walk-through of the nightclub.
Pearce said he knew the woman when he was arrested and escorted out of the Beach Haus Nightclub by police at about 1:30am on Sunday.
“On the CCTV footage Pearce gets up and reaches out towards the woman who jumps back and then he sits back down laughing,’’ said a police source.
He said it’s difficult to see if he makes any contact with the woman who is clearly startled.
Police are not seeking to interview Pearce at this stage unless the woman, who hasn’t been identified, comes forward and makes a complaint.
The CCTV footage is still be scrutinised by police.
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The NSW Integrity Commission has also contacted police to find out if any charges are to be laid.
As a result of his arrest, Pearce’s State of Origin hopes are in serious doubt and his long-term future is also unclear.
In another black eye for rugby league, Blues Origin coach Laurie Daley confirmed the 25-year-old’s standing as the incumbent NSW half-back would be reviewed after police called for witnesses into the incident.
And his Sydney Roosters and NSW teammate Boyd Cordner could also be called to account for his actions after the pair were ejected from the Clovelly Hotel earlier in the evening.
The CCTV footage is believed to be critical to police investigations.
Channel Nine reported a “visibly distressed’’ young woman had approached police and pointed out Pearce, who security staff escorted from the club.
Police later arrested Pearce when he allegedly became argumentative and refused to leave the area. He was issued with an infringement notice involving a fine for failing to leave a licensed premises and banned from Kings Cross for 48 hours.
Charges haven’t been ruled out.
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“At this stage they’ve just alleged to police an interaction that’s occurred between two people,’’ Inspector Craig Lowery said on Sunday.
“Someone who has witnessed the offence has alerted police to what’s happened.’’
While Insp. Lowery wouldn’t say whether the “interaction’’ was with a woman, he did confirm Pearce wasn’t in a fight.
“At this stage it’s too early in the investigation to determine what’s happened,’’ Lowery said.
The Daily Telegraph has been told Pearce had earlier been drinking at the Clovelly Hotel with Roosters teammates Cordner, Dylan Napa, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Frank Paul Nuuausala.
Pearce and Cordner were both asked to leave the Clovelly Hotel about 10.30pm on Saturday after allegedly becoming aggressive with security staff.
Several other Roosters players were also asked to leave as a result and it’s understood Pearce and Cordner were told they were not welcome to return.
The NRL Integrity Unit and the Roosters have both launched investigations into the incident, which comes just 10 days before Daley is to select his NSW side to play Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on May 28.
Pearce was a certainty to be chosen as the Blues’ half-back.
“We will find out all the facts and details and take it from there,” Daley told The Daily Telegraph on Sunday night.
Asked could this incident impact on Pearce’s selection, Daley said: “That is something we will discuss internally.
“Before we make any comment or decision, we have to find out what happened and the reasoning for it.
“From there we will form an opinion.”
Pearce, Cordner and his teammates were out just 24 hours after their side beat Wests Tigers 30-6 to kick off Mother’s Day round.
“It would be premature to make any judgment until the full set of circumstances are know,” NSWRL chairman Dave Trodden said.
The Sydney Roosters issued a statement on Sunday afternoon, saying: “The Sydney Roosters have been made aware that Mitchell Pearce was issued with an infringement notice for failure to quit a licensed premises overnight.
“The infringement notice was issued and the fine paid. The Roosters have advised the NRL’s Integrity Unit.
“From here, the club will address the matter internally and will be making no further comment.”
The Roosters will continue their investigations today. Club officials want the matter cleared up as soon as possible.
The NRL released a brief statement saying: “The NRL has been made aware if the matter involving Mitchell Pearce.
“The Integrity Unit has sought advice from the Roosters.”
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Should Pearce face sanctions from the NRL, he may well be banned from Origin I.
If that were to happen, Newcastle’s Jarrod Mullen, Canterbury’s Josh Reynolds and Bulldogs teammate Trent Hodkinson are possible replacements.
The Roosters’ James Maloney could also play half-back with John Sutton at five-eighth.
“Trent has a cool head and has the ability to steer his side around the field,” Canterbury coach Des Hasler said of Hodkinson.
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