Mitchell Pearce’s big-stage nightmares continue to haunt him

EVERYONE knew that Saturday night’s grand final qualifier would ultimately be decided by each teams’ playmaker. Michael Morgan stood tall. Mitchell Pearce didn’t.

Mitchell Pearce after the Roosters’ loss.

WHEN was the last time in a real big game Mitchell Pearce stood up with a performance that made you go “wow”?

Everyone knew going into Saturday night’s grand final qualifier that the winner would most likely come down to which chief playmaker took ownership of the result.

For the Cowboys, the pressure was on Michael Morgan to deliver.

For the Roosters, it was Pearce.

This is not Pearce bashing.

Mitchell Pearce after the Roosters’ loss.

This is simply the territory that goes with wearing the No.7 jumper.

In Johnathan Thurston’s absence this season, Morgan was handed a job that even his coach Paul Green admits Morgan never felt entirely comfortable with because of his unassuming personality.

But the way he has stepped up is beyond Green’s wildest expectations.

“He was a bit of a reluctant hero,” Green explained.

“I won’t say hero, that is probably overstating it.

“But I think he needed to believe in himself as much as everyone else believed in him.

“That is him as a bloke.

“That also was his challenge.

“Because he is calm and composed, he struggled seeing himself the way everyone else saw him.

“Once he took that final step I think we are seeing the player that he is capable of.”

In the first weekend of the finals against Cronulla it was Morgan who came up with the clutch plays that kept the Cowboys’ season alive.

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Then he went to another level in the win over Parramatta when he took Corey Norman and Mitchell Moses to school.

Don’t worry, the pressure on Morgan on Saturday night would have been every bit as intense as what Pearce was facing.

Michael Morgan on the charge.

Last week there was the revelation about how Trent Robinson had labelled Morgan “the best player in the comp” before the game against the Eels.

In the wake of his efforts against the Roosters, it’s getting harder and harder to argue Robinson’s assessment.

On Saturday night Morgan produced three repeat sets, nailed a cracking 40/20, came up with two try assists, calmly slotted a field goal, and generally controlled the game like a champion playmaker should.

Asked if he rated it Morgan’s best in the No.7 jumper, Green said: “I don’t know, it is hard to say.

“I haven’t sat back and thought enough about all the different performances over the year.

“It was a good one and one we needed as a team.”

It’s true, the Roosters were their own worst enemies, and no doubt Pearce’s performance was directly impacted by the high error-rate that dominated post-match discussion.

But could/should Pearce have done more to make it his mission to seize control in that final quarter when the match was on the line, like Morgan did?

That’s what the halves get paid the big bucks to do.

Throughout his career Pearce has proven he is one hell of a competitor.

But in the big moments again on Saturday night it was Morgan who owned them.

It’s why the Cowboys are in this year’s grand final, and the Roosters aren’t.

Originally published as Mitchell Pearce’s big-stage nightmares continue to haunt him