Knights divided over Pearce sexting drama

Mitchell Pearce’s flirty text-message exchange with a young female club employee not only forced the cancellation of his wedding but has created a split in the Newcastle Knights playing group.

Mitchell Pearce and Kristin Scott were due to be married on Tuesday. Picture: Instagram

Mitchell Pearce’s flirty text-message exchange with a young female club employee not only forced the cancellation of his wedding but has created a split in the Newcastle Knights playing group.

A number of Knights players, including highly regarded forward Lachlan Fitzgibbon, are close friends with the long-time partner of the female employee. It was the partner who found the text messages.

It will be a huge issue for coach Adam O’Brien when the team returns to pre-season training on January 4.

Outside of Fitzgibbon, other players in the team are disappointed by Pearce’s behaviour.

It is why O’Brien and senior management are poised to take the captaincy from the 31-year-old halfback and veteran of 297 NRL games. Pearce joined the Knights on a four-year deal in 2018 but there are now also doubts about his future at the club once his contract expires at the end of next season.

Pearce’s lavish Byron Bay wedding was cancelled just days before the event over an inappropriate text message exchange with the young female club employee.

Pearce and his partner Kristin Scott were due to be married on Tuesday in front of 150 guests at a venue on the NSW far north coast.

Guests were notified as late as Christmas Eve that the big day had been called off. The guest list included many of the NRL’s biggest names, who were told Sydney’s coronavirus outbreak was the reason behind the cancellation.

But The Sunday Telegraph revealed over the weekend that Pearce had opened up to teammates after being caught out by the text messages. He and Ms Scott spent Christmas apart with their families.

The matter was reported to Knights management.

“The Newcastle Knights are aware of the issue but it’s a private matter that stays between the two individuals,” Knights head of media Frank Barrett said.

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