State of Origin 2017: Mitchell Pearce basks in family history as NSW train at Leichhardt Oval

AS NSW ran through training at Leichhardt Oval on Wednesday, it was natural that Mitchell Pearce should glance at the Hill named after his father.

THE gaze up onto the famous Leichhardt Oval Hill was brief yet poignant for Mitchell Pearce.

There was Pearce training for NSW ahead of State of Origin II at a ground where his father, Wayne, was a local hero.

As NSW went through a brief training session at Leichhardt on Wednesday, Pearce looked to the hill. There was the massive black and gold sign above the old scoreboard ... The Wayne Pearce Hill.

And right opposite the ground, at 66 Mary Street, is the curator’s cottage. That is where Wayne grew up while his father Ray was Leichhardt Oval groundsman during the 1970s.

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Mitchell Pearce trains under the name of his father. Photo: Mark Evans

It is a ground full of Pearce history with another chapter added when Mitchell trained there for NSW, as he will again on Thursday.

“It’s great coming back to Leichhardt — this ground has a lot of memories for our family,” Mitchell said.

Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach played with Wayne during a successful era with Balmain during the 1980s. He used to nurse young Mitchell.

“Wayne used to sell hotdogs at Leichhardt as a youngster to earn a quid,” Roach said.

“I don’t think there is anyone more Leichhardt than Wayne Pearce. Next to Keith Barnes, he would probably be Balmain’s favourite son.

“It’s unbelievable to see Mitchell here at Leichhardt wearing a Blues shirt.

“There was nothing better than running out here with a sea of orange every second Sunday afternoon. It was only apt they named the hill after Wayne.”

The curator’s cottage where Wayne Pearce used to live in. Photo: Tim Hunter.

Former Balmain chairman, current director and club champion, John Chalk, offered an insight into the Pearce family.

“With the good head space Mitchell is in at the moment, I am sure he will reflect on training here at a ground where his Dad is so famous,” Chalk said.

“It’s history. Mitchell’s dad was a local hero. He even wrote his book called, Local Hero.

“Wayne sold hotdogs here. He sold them ... never ate them.

“Mitchell training here for NSW, that would be very special for him.”

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NSW centre Josh Dugan offered Pearce a monumental appraisal.

“He is in the best form ever,” Dugan said. “Pearcey is a great bloke, I have always had a lot of time for him. I’ve always got along well with him.

“All along I have said that sometimes you need a kick up the bum to grow to your potential as a person and as a player.

“That last straw last year has really put him in a good frame of mind off field and that has shown on the field.

“I’m stoked for him to be back in the Origin team and playing good footy.”