Newcastle legends back foreigner Mitchell Pearce to lead Knights to premiership glory
MITCHELL Pearce is set to join a host of “foreigners” who not only become Newcastle greats, but lead the club to an NRL premiership.
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MITCHELL Pearce is set to join a host of “foreigners” who not only become Newcastle greats, but lead the club to an NRL premiership.
Speaking with The Daily Telegraph, Knights favourites Danny Buderus and Tony Butterfield have both insisted Pearce, the undeniable NRL story of the summer, can follow in the footsteps of players like Ben Kennedy, Adam MacDougall, Robbie O’Davis and Marc Glanville.
Butterfield himself played two seasons with Penrith before heading to the Hunter, where he went on to amass 13 seasons, 229 games and that 1997 premiership ring.
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Asked if Pearce, long ranked among the most polarising players in the NRL, could finish his career as a Novocastrian great, he said: “The short answer: No doubt.
“By the time Mitchell’s finished up here, I really do believe he’s going to be remembered as one of the great ‘foreigners’.
“When he first signed, my mobile phone blew up with text messages.
“People were so excited, I actually had to tell them ‘hey, this thing is going to take time ... he has to get here first’.
“But there’s no doubting Mitchell can be the leader of an evolution here at Newcastle.
“I really think he’ll win the Knights a premiership in his tenure.”
Buderus, too, sees Pearce being remembered as a Knights favourite by the time his career is finished.
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“Newcastle has been crying out for somebody like Mitchell Pearce,’’ insists the Fox Sports analyst. “Fans up here, they’re extremely knowledgeable and understand what he can do for this club.
“They’re really going to love him.”
Newcastle has a proud history of embracing outsiders, starting with inaugural captain and Kiwi Slammin’ Sam Stewart.
Other notable ‘foreigners’ include Kennedy, who started his career with the Canberra Raiders, MacDougall, who had played with the Roosters, and Queensland Origin star O’Davis, who signed on from Brisbane Easts.
And while local boy Mark Sargent would missed their inaugural ‘88 season — given he was in the third and final year of a Canterbury-Bankstown deal — he would return home the following year, co-winning the Rothmans Medal with Cronulla star Gavin Miller.
While Pearce’s NSW Origin career has long polarised NRL fans, Butterfield is convinced by the time his four-year deal is up, the Knights recruit will be firmly entrenched within the Hunter community.
“Because Mitch is only 28 now,’’ he says. “So he’ll still be firing by the time that first contract ends.
“And I expect he will re-sign again.
“Finish his career here.
“We’ve already spoken a few times and he’s just so relaxed. So comfortable.
“In 2018, we’re going to see a new Mitchell Pearce, an improved Mitchell Pearce and a happy Mitchell Pearce.”
Buderus agreed, adding: “Mitchell Pearce will give the Knights’ attack that missing polish.
“Think about how many times last year the side led at half time, but just didn’t have that experience, that calm head and polish to go on and win it.
“Now they do.
“It’s an exciting time given the club has also signed young fullback Kalyn Ponga.
“I’d be tipping they’re going to sell a lot of jerseys with the numbers seven and one on the back.”