World reacts to Mitchell Pearce’s dog act
IN what could have been an omen for what was to follow, Mitchell Pearce admitted he was an erratic person just a couple of weeks ago.
ONCE every few years an NRL star will do something so ridiculous it makes headlines around the world.
Back in 2014, it was Todd Carney urinating into his own mouth in an infamous “bubbling” incident. At the end of the 2010 season, former Raiders star Joel Monaghan attracted unwanted global attention after a photo was circulated of him simulating a lewd act with a dog.
So when Mitchell Pearce essentially combined both Carney and Monaghan’s actions while on an Australia Day bender, it was only natural that the world’s media would take notice.
An intoxicated Pearce can be seen in a video shown by the Nine Network’s A Current Affair forcing an unwanted kiss on a female, who rejects his advances and clearly states, “I am a lesbian,” before he kisses her.
Pearce then turned his attention to the woman’s dog, announcing: “I’ll f*** that dog, I don’t give a f***, I don’t have a sexuality.”
Pearce, who was shirtless but wearing shorts, is then seen to simulate sex with the dog.
The woman tells him to stop but Pearce continues before the woman takes the dog away and tells him to leave.
Pearce again states what he would like to do to the animal. “I want to f*** your dog, I don’t even care anymore.”
The woman then suggests Pearce had also urinated on her couch.
It was a bizarre incident, but former NRL player and now Fox Sports commentator Jimmy Smith added some light on why Pearce might have done what he did.
“He describes himself as an erratic person,” Smith said on Channel 9’s A Current Affair on Thursday night.
“That’s how he described himself to us just a couple of weeks ago.
“It was almost like a premonition.”
While that’s no excuse for his behaviour, it is an interesting insight considering it came from the man himself.
Here is how everyone from the world press to the RSPCA reacted to the story that places a dark cloud over the future of one of the NRL’s biggest names.
WORLD PRESS
“Being a meathead — especially a drunk one —is encouraged as some sort of show of masculinity,” McQuillan added.
“Ditch the ‘boys will be boys’ mentality, and push the leaders of sporting bodies, like the NRL, to start taking some actual leadership. It’ll be a much better time — for fans, sportspeople and dogs.”
The story made headlines in country’s that would hardly realise rugby league is a sport.
Swedish national tabloid Expressen ran the headline “Star simulates sex — with a dog”.
“The rugby world is in shock after one of its most bizarre scandals ever exploded,” the report read.
“A rugby league player for the NRL’s Sydney Roosters lost his head at a party and, after failing to kiss a woman, took her dog in a sorry episode that has come to light,” they wrote.
While in the UK, The Independent reported the incident detail before stating it had “sparked outrage in Australia”.
THE GREAT
FORMER Origin star Mark Geyer made his thoughts on the Pearce situation clear on Triple M’s The Grill Team on Thursday morning, saying the halfback should be made to step away from the game for 12 months and get a “real job”.
“I saw a bloke next level drunk. I saw a bloke with a massive problem,” Geyer said in a pre-recorded message.
“A, forcing himself on to a girl in her own home. B, incoherent saying he was both gay and Aboriginal in the same sentence. C, performing a lewd sex act on a small dog,” he continued.
“Was it the worst thing I’ve ever seen? Probably not, but it’s right up there. The blame game card can not be played any more. This is a bloke who’s 26, he’s not a rookie. This is Pearce’s fourth or fifth indiscretion.
“He needs to be taken out of the system that he joined as a kid to appreciate what he’s got. Mitchell Pearce needs help. He’s obviously powerless when affected by alcohol and can not control his behaviour. He needs to be suspended for 12 months, get a real job away from football and undergo both counselling and rehab.
“I can only imagine how his parents would be feeling today. If I saw my son on a video recording acting that way I’d kick his arse from here to Katoomba.
“Pearce needs helps and needs to be as far away from footy as possible.”
THE MAN
ANTHONY Mundine said Pearce’s actions were the reason he never touched a drink.
The former NRL star said, however, that the whole situation had been blown out of proportion.
THE ROOSTERS
THE Sydney Roosters released a statement Thursday morning, revealing Pearce had been stood down by the club.
“The club wishes to advise that Mitchell Pearce has been stood down from all training commitments until the club concludes its internal investigation,” the Roosters said in a statement.
“The club continues to work closely with the NRL Integrity Unit and will be making no further comment at this time.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson then appeared in front of the media shortly before 10am AEDT, but added little to the club statement other than that he had spoken to Pearce both on Wednesday and Thursday.
“The behaviour was unacceptable, we understand that,” Robinson said, but refused to comment until the investigation had taken its course.
The Daily Telegraph reported club will strip Pearce of his captaincy, fine him up to $50,000 and enforce a ban preventing him from participating the World Club Challenge in England next month.
THE NRL
UNFORTUNATELY, the National Rugby League is no stranger to incidents like this and went into damage control immediately after the report surfaced on Wednesday evening.
“The NRL has asked the Sydney Roosters for a report into an incident involving Mitchell Pearce — after the club advised the NRL about the matter,” the NRL said.
“The Integrity Unit will work with the Roosters to ensure the matter is dealt with appropriately.”
Melbourne Storm boss Dave Donaghy said it was “incredibly frustrating” from his club’s point of view.
“99.9 per cent of players actually do do the right thing in the community space. Our staff and players put a lot of hard work in the community space as well,” Donaghy told Nova 100’s Chrissie, Sam and Browny breakfast show.
“While we are flying the flag for rugby league in this market, unfortunately we get tarred with the same brush and that shouldn’t be the case.”
THE ALLAN BORDER MEDALLIST
DAVID Warner’s honour of being named Australian cricketer of the year was overshadowed by the Pearce news breaking on Wednesday night.
Asked whether he was annoyed Pearce had knocked Warner receiving the Allan Border Medal back to page four of the newspaper, the Aussie opener laughed and said he was sure Pearce would have preferred if it was Warner on page one instead.
Similarly to Mundine, Warner said athletes needed to be extremely careful in the age of the mobile phone and social media.
“It looked a bit disturbing,” Warner said on WSFM101.7’s Jonesy and Amanda breakfast show.
“It shows that today you’re never safe with mobile phones.
“Obviously I don’t condone what he did. It’s an appalling act but you look at Todd Carney as well: a couple of mates send around some videos ... No one is safe and you shouldn’t carry on like that.
“I’m pretty sure he’ll be disappointed today having to see that and be embarrassed in front of a lot of people.”
THE RSPCA
RSPCA NSW chief inspector David O’Shannessy said the organisation was “appalled” by Pearce’s act but no charges would be laid.
“The RSPCA like the community are appalled by Pearce’s behaviour. Fortunately the dog’s uninjured,” he said.
“It’s disappointing someone can behave so poorly and degrade the human-animal relationship. Alcohol is not an excuse for animal cruelty.
“There’s no offences commited under the prevention of cruelty to animals act.”
1/2 - RSPCA NSW is appalled by footage showing NRL player Mitchell Pearce engaging in a lewd act with a dog on the night of January 26/27...
— RSPCA NSW (@RSPCANSW) January 27, 20162/2 - ...RSPCA NSW is investigating and anyone with additional information is urged to call 1300 CRUELTY.
— RSPCA NSW (@RSPCANSW) January 27, 2016SOCIAL
UNSURPRISINGLY, Twitter is having a field day.
Mitchell Pearce. pic.twitter.com/5xN0Sko7MG
— Andrew (@IAMAROD19) January 27, 2016Dogs when they see Mitchell Pearce be like pic.twitter.com/RN8GmsccFI
— Paul Boehl (@Boehl7) January 27, 2016The latest on Mitchell Pearce pic.twitter.com/PS9MUdAckV
— Ben Dorries (@Dorries_cmail) January 27, 2016
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