Pride, relief, ecstasy: Mitchell Pearce shares Origin joy with dad Wayne

Over 12 years and seven series losses, Wayne Pearce had watched his son Mitchell become a punching bag for the state of NSW.

This is the emotional embrace former NSW captain Wayne Pearce describes as superior to anything he achieved during his own glittering State of Origin career.

Over 12 years and seven series losses, Pearce had watched his son Mitchell become a punching bag for the state of NSW.

But just after 10pm on Wednesday night, Mitchell found his father standing, waiting, inside the NSW dressing rooms on the ground floor of ANZ ­Stadium.

Without hesitation, Mitchell walked towards his father, smiled and wrapped his arms around the original “Junior” Pearce.

With a lump in his throat and his words muffled by the shoulder of his father and the first Blues captain to lead the state to a 3-0 clean sweep of Queensland in 1986, Mitchell said simply: “Dad, we did it.’’

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They are three words which Pearce rates as the most special of his illustrious Origin career, which spanned 15 appearances, 10 of which were as captain between 1985-1988.

“Absolutely,’’ Pearce replied when asked if he was happier for his son than his own two series wins with NSW.

Mitchell Pearce celebrates NSW’s victory with his father Wayne Pearce. Picture: Brett Costello

“Because of the way he has been portrayed.

“It’s unbelievable. I suppose it is a sense of relief, but at the same time a sense of ecstasy for Mitchell because it has been such a journey for him, particularly the way it finished (with Pearce’s pass that led to James Tedesco’s final try).

“I was chatting to Sterlo (Peter Sterling) and we go back to when Origin started — I can’t remember a game that NSW won on the bell like that.

“I certainly was emotional (when the full-time siren sounded).

“It was hard to explain the emotions. It was a mixed sense of pride, relief and ­ecstasy as well.’’

After securing his first series win after 19 appearances, Mitchell spoke to reporters about how the Blues’ epic six-point victory would allow him to let go of any guilt which had festered as a result of so many defeats.

Mitchell Pearce celebrates after James Tedesco’s matchwinning try. Picture: AAP

“There’s been some guilt … there have been plenty of games that I haven’t finished the job,’’ Pearce said.

“You feel guilt when you lose. You’ve let people down, but walking that lap of honour, I enjoyed the moment.

“I suppose if the monkey was that I’ve never been part of a winning series and now I have — well, the monkey is off.

“But I keep stressing, I didn’t play the whole series. I’ve been lucky enough to come in at the end.’’

His father said he knows all too well the hurt Mitchell was feeling after each of those series losses, the most recent in 2017.

“I have seen him in pain after Origin games,’’ Pearce said. “He has felt a sense of guilt, I suppose. It is a distant memory now.”