Mitchell Pearce opens up about his stint in rehab after Australia Day incident

MITCHELL Pearce has opened up about the incident which almost destroyed his career in a candid interview that saw him break down. Read what the disgraced star has to say here.

Sydney Roosters Mitchell Pearce interview at Sofitel Hotel,Sydney .Picture Gregg Porteous

MITCHELL Pearce has denied being an alcoholic — but admitted he has hit “rock bottom.”

“At this point in time, I am probably the worst role model in the sport,” Pearce said.

“There are plenty of people who hate me. Even my good friends will be angry at me. I am enjoying that feeling, which sounds really weird. But I need to feel that pain, I need to feel that humiliation, because, to be honest, there are other times where I haven’t really taken full responsibility.”

Mitchell Pearce says he humiliated his family and his teammates. Picture Gregg Porteous

A brutally honest Pearce opened up on Monday during an extraordinary interview where he revealed he had given up booze indefinitely and how a month-long stint in a Thai rehab facility — where he was living alongside heroin addicts — could save his career.

Pearce broke down during the interview when explaining how he told his mum, Terri, he had been secretly filmed simulating a sex act on a dog.

“I totally shat on everyone I respect. No excuses,” he said.

THE EMBARRASSMENT

“I have just come back from a rehab centre. Life hasn’t been great — it can’t get any worse than that. I have mixed emotions. Part of me when I got off the plane was feeling of achievement because I completed a four-week rehab course and I made some really good friends there,” Pearce said.

“I felt a bit of accomplishment in terms of sticking to that. But for me the hard work starts now. I came back and walked into what I had left — a lot of humiliation for myself, my family, my club. I felt scared yesterday (Sunday) when I got off the plane.

Mitchell Pearce his greeted by his mum Terri after arriving in Sydney. Picture Gregg Porteous

“It would literally be doing my head in to keep thinking about that stuff (punishment) and what people are thinking. It’s an endless road that. It’s not the first time I have made mistakes. I think all of us have made mistakes. Mine is just a bit more graphic. Like I said, there’s probably plenty of people who don’t like me, there’s plenty of people who hate me, there’s plenty of people that won’t forgive me.”

THE REHAB

“It was just basically a lot of self-assessment and taking ownership of the position you are in,” he said. “People come from all walks of life and seeing it from a different angle. You are at rock bottom if you are in there. I got myself in a position where I was at rock bottom and it’s not a good position to be in. I can’t ever erase that but I can work now at being the best I can be.

“We had a lot of meetings and interaction with other people, other clients. You are in an enclosed area the whole time. It was like being at school — constant meetings, a lot of therapy and working out why you do things. I was sh*tting myself when I went over there. I didn’t know anyone.”

THE BOOZE

“Am I an alcoholic? No, I don’t think I am. But I have an addictive personality. I have always been obsessive. I have been a lot like that with footy. To be honest, I haven’t had balance in my life. I have come in and played footy since I was a kid. I have never had balance. It’s no secret I haven’t handled alcohol great over my career. One thing I have learnt — I am not denying I love having a good time, I always love to have a beer — but it can’t serve a place in my life for now or the near future.

Mitchell Pearce in action for the Roosters.

“It is always going to be a challenge. Like I said, I am not an alcoholic. I hate saying that because of the label. I am a binge drinker. I haven’t learnt my lesson to this point. Alcohol has caused me a lot of embarrassment. It clearly doesn’t sit well with me. To say at 26 I am never going to have a beer again is ridiculous. But at this present moment I am not drinking, it is not even on my mind.

“One thing I have learnt, when I saw it smacked in my face, was the damage I had done to myself, my family, my club, and the embarrassment I have been brought on and it is all around alcohol. It’s not serving me any good. I keep saying it. Do I like having a beer? Yes. I love having a beer. I will miss being around the boys having a beer. I will still be around my mates but I will miss having a beer. I think that’s one of the things I learnt being away. To try to change yourself by saying I hate alcohol is ridiculous. For me I need to grow up in all areas of my life.”

THE NIGHT

“We had a drink on Australia Day. I had gone with a couple of people back to the house (where the incident occurred). Once again, I was captain of the club and I should have really gone home,” he said. “That’s been a bit of an issue of mine when I drink — I don’t know when to stop, which has got me in a bit of trouble. I was at that house for a while before (I was filmed). I am not a disrespectful person. I had been at the house before that for an hour or so. Everything was pretty friendly. My actions, the more intoxicated I got, we’re definitely disrespectful, and totally unacceptable. That’s got me in this position.

Mitchell Pearce and his dad Wayne at Sydney Airport. Picture Gregg Porteous

“I was pretty drunk by the time that happened. I remember most of it. My actions — it’s not me. It’s not something I am proud of what led me to doing something so stupid. I haven’t got an answer for why I did it. It was just immaturity and alcohol. I am disappointed (about being filmed secretly) but hopefully this could be the best thing that happened. If he didn’t do that, maybe I would be drinking still and the season would just get worse.”

HIS PARENTS

“I honestly didn’t know anyone filmed it until the next day. ‘Robbo’ (Roosters coach Trent Robinson) called me in the afternoon — I had just had an arvo nap, I was hung-over. I felt sick in the stomach. I remembered how drunk I was. I honestly couldn’t remember anything about this guy filming it. In the video I am looking at him but I honestly, swear on my heart, I didn’t have any inkling anyone was filming anything. He (Robinson) told me straight away the news had got it. I thought ‘here we go’. I called mum — I speak to mum usually. Basically she is always supportive. For them, it is horrible. For my mum and them to have to walk around and face that. They want to be proud of their son. To see my mum, she has always been supportive. To see her have to handle that sort of stuff is pretty bad.”

Mitchell Pearce says he let his teammates down. Picture: Ross Schultz

THE TEAMMATES

“Basically, I have let them down. There will be guys there saying ‘it’s all good, it’s all good’ but they will have the sh*ts and they have every right to. I have upset the season — awful leadership, my actions were terrible,” he said. “I needed to suffer for a bit. That’s something that I’ve come back expecting. There will definitely be trust issues there with my teammates and the club. It (losing the captaincy) was disappointing but I expected that straight away. I deserved to lose it. If I hadn’t, I would have stood down anyway. The actions I was showing were against everything a captain should be doing. All of it feels horrible.

“Have I been a good role model? No. At this point, in time I am probably the worst in the sport. My actions were pretty bad. It hasn’t been a good look, especially for kids looking up to. I’m not the first person to get drunk but those others aren’t captains of clubs who have people who look up to them. It’s not about anyone else. My standards need to be right for myself and family.”