State of Origin 2017: Should NSW move on from Mitchell Pearce?

FIVE years ago, we asked if Mitchell Pearce’s time with NSW was up. After another Origin failure, the Roosters halfback faces those tough questions yet again.

Pearce has been here too many times before. Picture: Brett Costello

• PAUL CRAWLEY: Queensland call-ups slot in seamlessly
• ANALYSIS: Should NSW move on from Mitchell Pearce?
• WHAT’S NEXT: Does Andrew Johns want to coach the NSW Blues?
• State of Origin 2017: Where the decider was won and lost

HAVE we seen the last of Mitchell Pearce in a NSW jumper?

Believe it or not, this was the very introduction to a Daily Telegraph story after NSW lost Origin III — in 2012.

Five years on, Blues fans will be having the same heated debate about the merits of sticking with Pearce moving forward.

It is cruel to repeatedly put the slipper into Pearce, and was almost anticipated by coach Laurie Daley leading into the game.

“He is a guy who obviously creates plenty of debate. You can’t control what people think or say,’’ Daley in the leads-up to the decider.

Daley said after the match: “I thought he was good. I thought he contributed and did his job.

“People will have their own opinions on Mitch, but he did his job.’’

DEFEAT: Blue tears again as Maroons rule

ORIGIN BUZZ: Highlights and lowlights

Pearce has been here too many times before. Picture: Brett Costello

Wednesday night was not one of Pearce’s better games.

His towering kicks did little to trouble the Maroons backs. He threw a pass straight into the head of Matt Gillett that almost led to a Tim Glasby try, and botched a tackle on Cameron Munster who raced down field and eventually allowed Valentine Holmes to bring up a hat-trick of tries.

Pearce was desperate to win his first Origin series. He has now lost seven of them.

It was easy to work out why he was one of the most shattered blokes slumped in the middle of the field after full-time.

For all his wonderful moments in big games, including the Sydney Roosters premiership in 2013, his numbers on the Origin stage cannot be fudged.

He was denied the chance to celebrate the blowout win in game one because he was knocked out cold. His famous father and Balmain great Wayne congratulated him on his try, only for Pearce to respond: “Did I score?’’

His second game at ANZ Stadium was disappointing, and even criticised because of his inability to close out the game.

Pearce was exposed again by his Maroon rivals. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

To make matters worse, his No. 7 opposite on Wednesday night, Cooper Cronk, was absolutely brilliant, had the ball on the string — his flat cross-field kick to Valentine Holmes for his second try was freakish — and he troubled the defence every time he ran the ball.

Cronk had the advantage of being surrounded by classy Melbourne Storm teammates Cameron Smith and Billy Slater, and a team that enjoyed plenty of possession and field position in the opening half.

But when the Blues needed a spark, the man expected to ignite that attack was nowhere to be seen.

Can the Roosters man come back again? Picture: Brett Costello

Daley, provided he sticks around as coach, will have plenty of time to work out the halfback headache.

Does Matty Moylan return to five-eighth and combine with James Maloney?

Does Adam Reynolds get his jersey back.

Maybe take a punt on teen Penrith sensation Nathan Cleary?

If we are being fair dinkum, Cronk needs to retire before any Blues halfback can be truly confident about getting the better of Queensland.

He is a joy to watch. Pearce would have hated it. Have we seen the last of Mitchell Pearce in a NSW jumper?