Mitchell Pearce wants Newcastle Knights to gain a harder edge
He captained Newcastle to their meek end this year but Mitchell Pearce has a message for his Knights teammates that could provide the foundation for a charge up the ladder.
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Newcastle skipper Mitchell Pearce has challenged his side to find a tougher mental resilience after the Knights meek end to the year.
Much has changed at Newcastle heading into 2020. Gone is coach Nathan Brown and the bulk of his coaching staff replaced by Adam O’Brien who tasted success as an assistant at Melbourne and the Roosters.
O’Brien brings with him a harder edge too having spent the bulk of his coaching apprenticeship alongside Craig Bellamy.
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Pearce said it was obvious what his side lacked having squandered a golden opportunity to play finals football, costing Brown’s job in the process.
“It was a rollercoaster,” Pearce said. “It was a weird old year. If you change it at the time you would’ve.
“There’s been a lot of change going on at the club. From a players perspective we have to go to another level as a group. We need to mature a fair bit as a group and develop as leaders across the board.
“The club has made a lot of changes in terms of the officers and coaching staff. My reflection from a leadership point of view is we need to get a lot more resilience. It’s an area I need to keep improving in.
“We need to get the culture to be a tough brand of footy week in, week out. It’s something, as a club, we’ve lacked. I need to drive that harder.”
Pearce said the club’s leaders had to wear some of the blame for a season that ended with two wins from their final 10 games. O’Brien’s arrival will have people again suggesting the Knights should be finals bound. Despite leading the Roosters and Storm’s attack in recent years, O’Brien wants the Knights to have a tougher edge.
“I have some really good memories of this year,” Pearce said. “Some of the best times I’ve had. Other times we struggled. We hated watching the finals when we’re not playing. It makes you feel pretty bad. If you don’t have that you may as well retire.
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“It’s good to watch and feel envious and jealous. Make sure you feel that for next season and take it into pre-season.
“I had a good relationship with Browny. That door has closed. We have a new coach but that doesn’t mean instant success. We have to start creating a resilient culture.
“Browny was really good attacking coach. Adam will bring a good balance between connecting the attack and the D. We have to become a side that becomes resilient and know how to arm-wrestle teams.”