Colman’s call: State of Origin nightmare makes Mitchell Pearce NRL’s top buy

IT’S only round two and it’s only the Knights and, yes, it is only Mitchell Pearce, but the notorious State of Origin flop could already be the buy of the NRL season, writes Mike Colman.

Mitchell Pearce has already made a big impact with the Knights during the first two rounds of the 2018 NRL season. Picture: Tony Feder/Getty Images

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MITCHELL Pearce might just be the buy of the season.

Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s only round two and it’s only the Knights and yes, it is only Mitchell Pearce.

But how good is he going?

The way Pearce moved the Knights around the park late in their win over the Raiders on the weekend made me shake my head in disbelief.

In the dying stages of a match that could have gone either way his leadership and astute play-making was the difference between winning and losing.

Mitchell Pearce has already made a big impact with the Knights during the first two rounds of the 2018 NRL season. Picture: Tony Feder/Getty Images

At one stage he was waving his arms around so vigorously to get his less experienced team-mates into position to cut off any late comeback from the Raiders that he looked in danger of dislocating a shoulder or two.

How, I asked myself, can someone be so effective and assured in a club match, and seem so ineffectual and out of his depth at Origin level?

I guess it’s the opposite of the line that Gus Gould brings out with monotonous regularity when a youngster starts making his mark on the game.

“He’s an Origin player this kid.”

Well if, as Gus says, there is such a thing as an Origin player, it stands to reason that there is also such a thing as a non-Origin player.

Seems to me that Pearce should be captain-coach of the second category.

Not that it’s his fault. He does his best; tries as hard as anyone ever has, but for some reason when it comes to Origin he just hasn’t got it.

If anyone is to blame, it’s the selectors.

No other player in Origin history has been in as many losing series as Pearce: seven from seven. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

No other player in Origin history has been given as many chances as Pearce and no-one has been in so many losing series: seven from seven.

It has got to take its toll. It can’t be easy backing up year after year and copping a hiding.

Just like winning is a habit, so is losing, and it doesn’t help when a champion like Johnathan Thurston hits you right between the eyes with the greatest Origin sledge of all time.

“Go out the front and get a picture with the statue of Wally. That’s as close to the shield as you’ll ever get.”

Funny? Yes. Cruel? Absolutely. True? 100 percent.

Unless the NSW selectors lose total control of their senses, or Nathan Cleary breaks a leg between now and June, Pearce has played his last Origin.

You have to think a little part of him will be relieved that he doesn’t have to be put through the humiliation any more.

It will also free up his mind and body to deliver for Newcastle.

That’s got to be good news all around. The Knights fans have suffered enough in recent years.

So has Mitchell Pearce.

Originally published as Colman’s call: State of Origin nightmare makes Mitchell Pearce NRL’s top buy