Mitchell Pearce says he knows Ben Hunt’s pain as battling Dragons head to Newcastle
KNIGHTS halfback Mitchell Pearce, no stranger to criticism over his long career, says he knows exactly what embattled Dragons playmaker Ben Hunt is going through.
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MITCHELL Pearce knows all too well the highs and lows an NRL halfback can experience in a short space of time.
The Knights number seven admits he’s had a “rollercoaster” of a 2018, but also sympathises with what his opposite number this weekend in Ben Hunt is going through now.
The Dragons halfback has struggled to find the form he started the season in as St George Illawarra stutter towards next week’s finals.
Hunt has come under fire for his play since returning from Origin, something Pearce can understand.
Pearce said he could see the effect it has had on Hunt, but he believed he could pull himself out of the funk.
“I was feeling a bit for Benny after Origin, I’ve been there myself. I’ve seen it’s probably taken its toll on him a little bit, he was a little bit hurt there for a while,” Pearce said.
“I don’t know him too well but he’s a brilliant player and has had a really good career. If he finds form this weekend, we’re in trouble.
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“He’s a competitor and he went to the Dragons at the start of the season on a high. He’d be more hungry than anyone else to get back and play good footy.
“He’s played for Australia, he’s played Origin, he’s played grand finals. He’s a really, really good halfback and if he’s on this weekend it’s going to be a real challenge for us.”
Newcastle host the Dragons on Saturday afternoon in what will be their final game of 2018.
Currently sitting 11th on the ladder, the Knights can’t progress higher but are at risk of dropping as low as 13th if results don’t go their way.
After a promising start to 2018, a lengthy injury to Pearce halted their progression and was compounded by injuries to other key players including members of the spine in Kalyn Ponga, Slade Griffing and Connor Watson.
Despite not making the finals, Pearce was optimistic about this season and what lies ahead.
“[Missing finals] sucks to be honest,” Pearce said.
“It’s been a real rollercoaster year but it’s also been really challenging, I’ve had a lot of growth in myself, learnt a lot of things that I probably wouldn’t have learnt last year in a side that’s winning more often.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I love the boys here, I love the club, I love the team.
“We’re on to bigger and better things and I’m really excited for a big off season.”