Mitchell Pearce (born 7 April 1989) is an Australian professional
rugby league
Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...
footballer who plays as a for the
Catalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons ( French: ''Dragons Catalans'', Catalan: ''Dracs Catalans'') are a professional rugby league club from Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. The team competes in the Super League and are the only team from ...
in the
Super League
The Super League (officially known as the Betfred Super League due to sponsorship from Betfred and legally known as Super League Europe), is the top-level of the British rugby league system. At present the league consists of twelve teams, of wh ...
.
He previously played for
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional Rugby league, Rugby League Football Club based in the Eastern Suburbs (Sydney) and parts of inner Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition. The Roosters have won ...
, with whom he won the
2013 NRL Grand Final
The 2013 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2013 NRL season. Played on Sunday, 6 October at Sydney's ANZ Stadium between the minor premiers Sydney Roosters and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. The Roosters won ...
and
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership. Playing in red and blue, th ...
in the
NRL
The National Rugby League (NRL) is an Australasian rugby league club competition which contains clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand. The NRL formed in 1998 as a joint partnership ...
. Pearce has played for
City Origin
The Sydney Rugby League team, known as the City Rugby League team, or Combined Sydney, or Sydney Firsts, or Sydney Capitals, is a representative rugby league team. From 2021, the men's team is to consist of players selected from the New South Wa ...
,
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
in the
State of Origin series
The State of Origin series is an annual best-of-three rugby league series between two Australian state representative sides, the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons.
Referred to as “Australian sport's greatest rivalry”, the ...
, the
Prime Minister's XIII
Prime Minister's XIII, or sometimes informally referred to as the PM's XIII, is the name of a representative rugby league team, comprising Australian players from National Rugby League clubs that did not qualify for the NRL Finals, or whose tea ...
and the
NRL All Stars side.
Background
Pearce was born in
Sydney, New South Wales
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountains ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. He is the son of the ARL commissioner, former
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers (also known as the Sydney Tigers from 1995–96) are a rugby league club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in t ...
legend,
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
and
Australian
Australian(s) may refer to:
Australia
* Australia, a country
* Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia
** European Australians
** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists
** Aboriginal Au ...
international
Wayne Pearce
Wayne John Pearce Order of Australia, OAM (born 29 March 1960 in Balmain, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach. An athletic for the Balmain Tigers, he was known as Junior. Pearce represented N ...
.
He played his junior football for the
Asquith Magpies
The Asquith Magpies Rugby League Football Club is an Australian rugby league football club based in Asquith, New South Wales formed in 1953. They previously competed in the NSW Ron Massey Cup competition and the Sydney Shield. Asquith are curre ...
and North Ryde Hawks. Pearce attended and played
rugby union
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...
for
Barker College
, motto_translation = Seek Honour above Rewards
, location = Hornsby, Sydney
, country = Australia
, coordinates =
, pushpin_map = Australia Sydney
, pushpin_image ...
, before transferring to
Marist Catholic College North Shore
, motto_translation = Courage Conquers All
, location =
, address = 270 Miller Street & 40 Ridge Street
, region = Lower North Shore
, city = North Sydney
, ...
for his senior years, where he played league alongside his friend
Kieran Foran
Kieran Foran (born 13 July 1990) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a or for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL and New Zealand at international level.
Foran previously played for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, ...
. Pearce would later be signed by the Sydney Roosters. In December 2005, Pearce, who was then 16 years old, was at a charity golf function in Queensland's
Sunshine Coast when was attacked by a drunken
Craig Gower
Craig Gower (born 29 April 1978) is an Italian-Australian former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He is a dual-code rugby international, having played rugby league for Australia and ...
, the
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith that competes in the NRL. The team is based west of the centre of Sydney, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Penrith ...
captain. Gower allegedly chased Pearce around the resort with a glass bottle before vomiting on him; Gower was also accused of manhandling and groping Pearce's older sister Tatum Pearce.
Playing career
2007
In Round 2 of the
2007 NRL season
The 2007 NRL season was the one hundredth season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the tenth run by the National Rugby League. Sixteen teams contested the NRL's 2007 Telstra Premiership, and with the inclusio ...
, Pearce made his
NRL
The National Rugby League (NRL) is an Australasian rugby league club competition which contains clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand. The NRL formed in 1998 as a joint partnership ...
debut for the
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional Rugby league, Rugby League Football Club based in the Eastern Suburbs (Sydney) and parts of inner Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition. The Roosters have won ...
against the
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys is an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, the largest town in North Queensland. They compete in Australia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL).
Sinc ...
, starting at halfback in the 43-6 loss at
1300SMILES Stadium
The Willows Sports Complex, currently known as 1300SMILES Stadium through Naming rights, sponsorship, is a grass football stadium situated in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It has been a predominantly rugby league ground as the home ground o ...
. After three First Grade appearances for the Roosters, Pearce's contract was extended by the club to the end of the 2010 season. In Round 12 against the
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership. Playing in red and blue, th ...
, Pearce scored his first NRL career try in the Roosters 22-18 loss at
Central Coast Stadium
Central Coast Stadium (known originally as Grahame Park), known commercially as Industree Group Stadium is a sports venue in Gosford, on the Central Coast, New South Wales, Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. The stadium is home to ...
. In Round 14 against the
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith that competes in the NRL. The team is based west of the centre of Sydney, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Penrith ...
, Pearce scored an 80-metre try in the final minute from a loose carry from Panthers halfback
Craig Gower
Craig Gower (born 29 April 1978) is an Italian-Australian former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He is a dual-code rugby international, having played rugby league for Australia and ...
, the man who previously drunkenly attacked Pearce 2 years prior and got the last laugh by scoring the try of his mistake to win the match for the Roosters 24-20 at
Penrith Stadium
Penrith Stadium (known commercially as BlueBet Stadium) is a rugby league and association football stadium located in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.
The 22,500 capacity venue is the home ground for the Penrith Panthers who play in the N ...
. Later into the season, Pearce was ruled out for 6 weeks to due a back injury and later in Round 23 onwards where he played off the interchange bench in last 3 matches. Pearce finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 16 matches and scoring 2 tries for the Roosters in the
2007 NRL season
The 2007 NRL season was the one hundredth season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the tenth run by the National Rugby League. Sixteen teams contested the NRL's 2007 Telstra Premiership, and with the inclusio ...
.
2008
On 2 May 2008, Pearce made his representative debut, playing for
City Origin
The Sydney Rugby League team, known as the City Rugby League team, or Combined Sydney, or Sydney Firsts, or Sydney Capitals, is a representative rugby league team. From 2021, the men's team is to consist of players selected from the New South Wa ...
against
Country Origin
The Country New South Wales rugby league team is a representative rugby league football team. Between 1987 and 2017 there were two tiers: the Origin team that consisted of professional players who originated from clubs of the Country Rugby Leagu ...
and starting at halfback in the 22-22 all draw at
WIN Stadium
Wollongong Showground, known as WIN Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a multi-purpose stadium located in Wollongong, Australia. The stadium was officially opened in 1911. From 1982 until 1998 it played host to every home match for the Illawa ...
. On 2 July 2008, Pearce was selected to make his
State of Origin
A State of Origin competition is a type of sporting event between players representing their state or territory. State of Origin began in Australian rules football on 8 October 1977 between Western Australia (WA) and Victoria, at Subiaco Oval ...
debut for
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
, replacing the injured
Peter Wallace
Peter James Wallace (born 16 October 1985) is a former Scotland international rugby league footballer who played for the Penrith Panthers and the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL.
A New South Wales State of Origin representative, Wallace began hi ...
in the Game 3 series decider match at
ANZ Stadium
ANZ may refer to:
People
* Anz (musician), a British DJ and electronic musician
Banks
* ANZ (bank), Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, the fourth-largest bank in Australia
** ANZ Bank New Zealand, the largest bank in New Zealand
...
. The Blues were defeated 16-10 and lost the series. Pearce later said, "In hindsight I wish I never played that early when I was 19 to 22. I definitely wasn't ready. As a halfback in Origin at 19, it was way too early. I probably developed some bad doubts from that period in those first few games. It's a daunting thing." In Round 21 against the
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys is an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, the largest town in North Queensland. They compete in Australia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL).
Sinc ...
, Pearce scored his hattrick of tries in the Roosters 32-20 win at
1300SMILES Stadium
The Willows Sports Complex, currently known as 1300SMILES Stadium through Naming rights, sponsorship, is a grass football stadium situated in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It has been a predominantly rugby league ground as the home ground o ...
.
![Mitchellpearce](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Mitchellpearce.jpg)
Pearce finished the
2008 NRL season
The 2008 NRL season was the 101st season of professional rugby league club competition in Australia, and the eleventh run by the National Rugby League. For the second year, National Rugby League teams, sixteen teams competed for the 2008 Telstr ...
with him playing in 25 matches, scoring 7 tries and kicking 1 field goal for the Roosters.
2009
In March 2009, Pearce extended his contract with the Roosters to the end to the 2013 season. Pearce finished Roosters wooden spoon dreaded
2009 NRL season
The 2009 NRL season was the 102nd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the twelfth run by the National Rugby League. For the third consecutive year, sixteen teams competed for the 2009 Telstra Premiership ...
with him playing in all the Roosters 24 matches, scoring 8 tries and kicking 1 field goal.
2010
Pearce regained the halfback spot for New South Wales in Game 2 of the
2010 State of Origin series
The 2010 State of Origin series was the 29th State of Origin series, annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland rugby league team, Queensland and New South Wales rugby league team, New South Wales ...
, where they were beaten by Queensland 34-6 at
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park, also known as Brisbane Football Stadium, by the sponsored name Suncorp Stadium, and nicknamed: 'The Cauldron', is a multi-purpose stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Milton. The current facility co ...
and lost the series in a fifth consecutive year. Pearce also played in Game 3, where the Blues were beaten 23-18 at
ANZ Stadium
ANZ may refer to:
People
* Anz (musician), a British DJ and electronic musician
Banks
* ANZ (bank), Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, the fourth-largest bank in Australia
** ANZ Bank New Zealand, the largest bank in New Zealand
...
and were beaten in a whitewash 3-0 series loss. Pearce would later be one of the main players to lead the Roosters who were last place wooden spooner's in the previous season to the
2010 NRL Grand Final
The 2010 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2010 NRL season. Played on Sunday, 3 October at Sydney's ANZ Stadium, the match was contested by the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Sydney Roosters. It was ...
against the
St George Illawarra Dragons
The St. George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing both the Illawarra and St George regions of New South Wales. The club has competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 after a joint- ...
, as the Roosters made the finals on 6th place. On 3 October 2010, Pearce started at halfback in the Roosters 32-8 defeat on the big day. Pearce finished the
2010 NRL season
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 Octobe ...
with him playing in 22 matches and scored 9 tries for the Roosters.
2011
On 6 May 2011, Pearce played for City Origin against Country Origin, playing at halfback in the 18-12 loss in
Albury
Albury () is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Hume Highway and the northern side of the Murray River. Albury is the seat of local government for the council area which also bears the city's name – the ...
. Pearce was selected to play at halfback in all 3 matches for New South Wales in their 2-1 series defeat in the
2011 State of Origin series
The 2011 State of Origin series was the 30th annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams contested under "State of Origin" selection rules. For the third s ...
. Pearce scored his first Origin try in Game 1, where the Blues lost 16-12 at
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park, also known as Brisbane Football Stadium, by the sponsored name Suncorp Stadium, and nicknamed: 'The Cauldron', is a multi-purpose stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Milton. The current facility co ...
. In Round 18 against the
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith that competes in the NRL. The team is based west of the centre of Sydney, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Penrith ...
, Pearce played his 100th NRL career match in the Roosters 34-26 win at
Sydney Football Stadium
The Sydney Football Stadium, commercially known as Allianz Stadium and previously Aussie Stadium, was a football stadium in Moore Park, Sydney, Australia. Built in 1988 next to the Sydney Cricket Ground, the stadium was Sydney's premier rect ...
. Pearce finished the
2011 NRL season
The 2011 NRL season was the 104th season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the fourteenth and last run by the National Rugby League's partnership committee of the Australian Rugby League and News Ltd. The NRL ...
with him playing in 21 matches, scoring 3 tries and kicking 1 field goal. On 25 September 2011, Pearce played for
Prime Minister's XIII
Prime Minister's XIII, or sometimes informally referred to as the PM's XIII, is the name of a representative rugby league team, comprising Australian players from National Rugby League clubs that did not qualify for the NRL Finals, or whose tea ...
against
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...
, playing at halfback in the 36-22 win in
Lae
Lae () is the capital of Morobe Province and is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is located near the delta of the Markham River and at the start of the Highlands Highway, which is the main land transport corridor between the Highl ...
.
2012
On 22 April 2012, Pearce played for City Origin against Country Origin, playing at halfback in the 24-22 loss in
Mudgee
Mudgee is a town in the Central West (New South Wales), Central West of New South Wales, Australia. It is in the broad fertile Cudgegong River valley north-west of Sydney and is the largest town in the Mid-Western Regional Council Local gover ...
. Pearce was selected to play at halfback in all 3 matches for New South Wales in their 2-1 series defeat in the
2012 State of Origin series
The 2012 State of Origin series was the 31st time the annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams was played entirely under 'state of origin' rules. For the fourth successive year a Queensland victor ...
. In June 2012, Pearce was rumoured to leave the Roosters to join the
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional Rugby league, rugby league football team, based in the Inner West and South West Sydney. They have competed in the National Rugby League since being formed at the end of the 1999 NRL season as a j ...
because a tough relationship with the
Brian Smith over him being printed on the papers due to his party boy antics. Pearce finished the
2012 NRL season
The 2012 NRL season was the 105th season of professional rugby league club competition in Australia, and the first run by the newly formed Australian Rugby League Commission. The main competition, called the 2012 NRL Telstra Premiership due to spon ...
with him playing in 22 matches and scoring 10 tries.
2013
On 13 February 2013, Pearce extended his contract with the Roosters to the end of the 2017 season. With a new coach of
Trent Robinson
Trent Robinson (born 15 March 1977) is an Australian professional rugby league coach who is the head coach of the Sydney Roosters in the NRL and a former professional rugby league footballer.
He has previously held coaching positions at Toul ...
and new halves partner of
James Maloney, Pearce's form was improving from previous seasons and later played in the
2013 State of Origin series
The 2013 State of Origin series was the 32nd time the State of Origin series, annual best-of-three series between the Queensland rugby league team, Queensland and New South Wales rugby league team, New South Wales rugby league teams was played ent ...
, playing in all 3 matches at halfback alongside Maloney in the 2-1 series loss. In Round 23 against the
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional Rugby league, rugby league football team, based in the Inner West and South West Sydney. They have competed in the National Rugby League since being formed at the end of the 1999 NRL season as a j ...
, Pearce played his 150th NRL career match and scored 2 tries in the 56-14 win at
Sydney Football Stadium
The Sydney Football Stadium, commercially known as Allianz Stadium and previously Aussie Stadium, was a football stadium in Moore Park, Sydney, Australia. Built in 1988 next to the Sydney Cricket Ground, the stadium was Sydney's premier rect ...
. Pearce would help the Roosters to win the Minor Premiership and later made it into the
2013 NRL Grand Final
The 2013 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2013 NRL season. Played on Sunday, 6 October at Sydney's ANZ Stadium between the minor premiers Sydney Roosters and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. The Roosters won ...
where they played against the
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Sydney's Northern Beaches. The team colours are maroon and white, while their namesake and logo is the sea eagle. They compete in Australia's premier rugb ...
. On 6 October 2013, Pearce played at halfback in the 26-18 win at
ANZ Stadium
ANZ may refer to:
People
* Anz (musician), a British DJ and electronic musician
Banks
* ANZ (bank), Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, the fourth-largest bank in Australia
** ANZ Bank New Zealand, the largest bank in New Zealand
...
. Pearce finished the Roosters successful
2013 NRL season
The 2013 NRL season was the 106th season of professional rugby league club competition in Australia. The National Rugby League's main competition, named the 2013 Telstra Premiership after major sponsors Telstra Corporation, was contested by sixte ...
with him playing in 26 matches and scoring 5 tries.
2014
In May 2014, Pearce was given an infringement notice by police after he refused to leave a nightclub in
Kings Cross after a female clubber complained about his actions. He was later fined $20,000 and given a 1 match suspension. Pearce was later dropped from the New South Wales squad, where
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the NRL Telstra Premiership, as well as competitions facilita ...
halfback
Trent Hodkinson
Trent Hodkinson (born 31 August 1988) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a in the NRL.
He played for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in two separate spells, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Newcastle ...
took over his incumbent spot and by coincidence he scored the winning try in Game 2 to win the series for the Blues for the first time since 2005 as Pearce has never had an Origin series win. Pearce finished the
2014 NRL season
The 2014 NRL season was the 107th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 17th season of the National Rugby League in Australia and New Zealand. The season started in New Zealand, for the Auckland Nines, replacing the Rugby Leagu ...
with him playing in 26 matches and scoring 9 tries for the Roosters.
2015
Pearce made his return to the Origin arena for the
2015 State of Origin series playing at five-eighth, a position he usually doesn't play at in all 3 matches as NSW went down to lose series 2-1. In Game 3 as the Blues copped an embarrassing 52-6 series decider defeat, Pearce was on the receiving off a brutal sledge from Queensland five-eighth
Johnathan Thurston
Johnathan Dean Thurston (born 25 April 1983) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League (NRL). Thurston was an Australian international, Queensland State of Origin and Indigenous All ...
, Him saying to Pearce, “If you want to touch the shield, your best chance is to go up and touch the Wally Lewis statue out the front of the stadium, I'll take the picture, that will be the closest you get to the shield in your lifetime", after he Pearce allegedly sledged him before the match saying that he was “too old for Origin”. In Round 21 against the
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the NRL Telstra Premiership, as well as competitions facilita ...
, Pearce became the youngest player in NRL history to play 200 career matches (at 26 years 115 days) as the Roosters won 38-28 at
Sydney Football Stadium
The Sydney Football Stadium, commercially known as Allianz Stadium and previously Aussie Stadium, was a football stadium in Moore Park, Sydney, Australia. Built in 1988 next to the Sydney Cricket Ground, the stadium was Sydney's premier rect ...
. Pearce was appointed co-captain of the Roosters and his side went on to win the Minor Premiership to bowed out in the Preliminary Final against the
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Football Club Ltd., commonly referred to as the Broncos, is an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in April 1987, the Broncos play in Australia's elite com ...
when they were defeated 31-12 at
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park, also known as Brisbane Football Stadium, by the sponsored name Suncorp Stadium, and nicknamed: 'The Cauldron', is a multi-purpose stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Milton. The current facility co ...
. Pearce finished the
2015 NRL season
The 2015 NRL season was the 108th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 18th season of the National Rugby League in Australia and New Zealand. The season started in New Zealand with the annual Auckland Nines, which was followed ...
with him playing in 21 matches and scoring 1 try for the Roosters.
2016
After Pearce's controversial drunken Australia Day antics that was caught on video, Pearce was fined $125,000 by the NRL, suspended for 8-matches and lost his co-captaincy for the Roosters. Pearce later made his return for the Roosters in Round 8 against the
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership. Playing in red and blue, th ...
, scoring a try in the 38-0 win at
Sydney Football Stadium
The Sydney Football Stadium, commercially known as Allianz Stadium and previously Aussie Stadium, was a football stadium in Moore Park, Sydney, Australia. Built in 1988 next to the Sydney Cricket Ground, the stadium was Sydney's premier rect ...
. Pearce wasn't selected for New South Wales for the
2016 State of Origin series
The 2016 State of Origin series was the 35th time the State of Origin series, annual best-of-three series between the Queensland rugby league team, Queensland and New South Wales rugby league team, New South Wales rugby league teams to be played e ...
, with selectors opting to put
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are a professional Australian rugby league
Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen pla ...
half
Adam Reynolds
Adam Reynolds (born 10 July 1990), is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains and plays as a for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL.
Reynolds played at representative level for the NRL All Stars, City New South Wales, ...
at halfback. Pearce finished his rough
2016 NRL season
The 2016 NRL season was the 109th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 19th season run by the National Rugby League. The season started in New Zealand with the annual Auckland Nines, and was followed by the All Stars Match, w ...
with him playing in a career low 12 matches and scoring 1 try for the Roosters. On 24 September 2016, Pearce played for
Prime Minister's XIII
Prime Minister's XIII, or sometimes informally referred to as the PM's XIII, is the name of a representative rugby league team, comprising Australian players from National Rugby League clubs that did not qualify for the NRL Finals, or whose tea ...
against
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...
, playing at halfback in the 58-0 win in
Port Moresby
(; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New Z ...
.
2017
In the Round 8 ANZAC Day match against the
St George Illawarra Dragons
The St. George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing both the Illawarra and St George regions of New South Wales. The club has competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 after a joint- ...
, Pearce kicked a game winning field goal in the 83rd minute during Golden Point to give the Roosters a 13-12 victory and won the ANZAC Man of the Match Medal at
Sydney Football Stadium
The Sydney Football Stadium, commercially known as Allianz Stadium and previously Aussie Stadium, was a football stadium in Moore Park, Sydney, Australia. Built in 1988 next to the Sydney Cricket Ground, the stadium was Sydney's premier rect ...
. In Round 16 against the
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are a rugby league club based in Melbourne, Victoria in Australia that participates in the National Rugby League. The first fully professional rugby league team based in the state, the Storm entered the competition in 1998. ...
, Pearce would again kick a match winning field goal in Golden Point to give the Roosters a 25-24 victory at
Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the city centre and North Adelaide. The venue is predominantly used for cricket and Australian rules football, but has also played host to rugby ...
. Pearce who started the season in good form would again get selected to play at halfback for New South Wales for the
2017 State of Origin series
The 2017 State of Origin series was the 36th annual best-of-three series between the Queensland and New South Wales rugby league teams. Before this series Queensland had won 20 times, NSW 13 times, with two series drawn. Queensland were the curr ...
in all 3 matches and scored 2 tries in another unsuccessful attempt for Pearce to be part of winning Origin team. On 27 September 2017, Pearce was the winner of the
Peter Frilingos
Peter Frilingos (1944–2004) was a sports journalist and commentator, best known for his work as a rugby league writer.
His reporting methods and integrity came under severe scrutiny during the Super League war. While he originally supported ...
Headline Moment of the Year of his match winning performance in the Roosters ANZAC Day clash against the St George Illawarra Dragons. Following the 2017 season in which Pearce helped the Roosters take 2nd place on the ladder and made it to the preliminary final, it was announced that the Roosters had signed
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are a rugby league club based in Melbourne, Victoria in Australia that participates in the National Rugby League. The first fully professional rugby league team based in the state, the Storm entered the competition in 1998. ...
superstar halfback
Cooper Cronk
Cooper Patrick Cronk (born 5 December 1983) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. An n international and Queensland State of Origin representative , he played most of his club career for ...
on a two-year deal. Pearce, feeling betrayed, started weighing his future in what would be the biggest decision in his career. In the end, Pearce decided to leave the club and on 20 November 2017, the Sydney Roosters granted Pearce an immediate release from his remaining contract. Pearce was negotiating with the
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership. Playing in red and blue, th ...
,
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Sydney's Northern Beaches. The team colours are maroon and white, while their namesake and logo is the sea eagle. They compete in Australia's premier rugb ...
and the
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales. They compete in the National Rugby League (NRL), Australasia's premier rugby league ...
. On 30 November 2017, it was announced that Pearce signed a 4-year deal with the
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership. Playing in red and blue, th ...
starting from 2018, worth about $4 Million over the time. Pearce finished his 10-year stint with the
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional Rugby league, Rugby League Football Club based in the Eastern Suburbs (Sydney) and parts of inner Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition. The Roosters have won ...
with him playing in playing in 23 matches, scoring 7 tries and kicking 3 field goals in the
2017 NRL season
The 2017 NRL season was the 110th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 20th season run by the National Rugby League. The season started in New Zealand with the annual Auckland Nines, and was followed by the All Stars Match, w ...
.
2018
In round 1 of the
2018 season, Pearce made his debut for the Knights in their 19-18
golden point
The golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn football matches. The term is borrowed from soccer's now-defunct golden goal.
Rugby league Australia
The golden point is used to determine a winner (where applicable, see ...
extra-time win over the
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based in Sydney's Northern Beaches. The team colours are maroon and white, while their namesake and logo is the sea eagle. They compete in Australia's premier rugb ...
, kicking the winning
field goal
A field goal (FG) is a means of scoring in gridiron football. To score a field goal, the team in possession of the ball must place kick, or drop kick, the ball through the goal, i.e., between the uprights and over the crossbar. The entire ba ...
. In round three Pearce played against his former club
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional Rugby league, Rugby League Football Club based in the Eastern Suburbs (Sydney) and parts of inner Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition. The Roosters have won ...
going down 8-38. 4 weeks later in the round 7 clash he tore his pectoral muscle in the Knights' 22-20 win against the
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional Rugby league, rugby league football team, based in the Inner West and South West Sydney. They have competed in the National Rugby League since being formed at the end of the 1999 NRL season as a j ...
at Scully Park. This Injury caused him to miss 10 weeks where in that time, the Knights only won 2 games. Once returning from injury, Pearce played in the remaining 8 games of the season. He ended the year with 22 votes in the
Dally M Awards
The Dally M Awards are the official annual player awards for the National Rugby League competition. As well as honouring the player of the year, who received the Dally M Medal, awards are also given to the premier player in each position, the be ...
, finishing in 5th overall and 2nd for the Knights.
2019
Recalled for the final game of the State of Origin Series, Pearce was a part of New South Wales' 26-20 win and the series victory. On the 8th attempt, it was the first time Pearce had been part of a winning series.
2020
Pearce played 21 games for Newcastle in the
2020 NRL season
The 2020 NRL season was the 113th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 23rd season run by the National Rugby League.
Teams
The lineup of teams remained unchanged for the 14th consecutive year.
; Notes
:
:
:
Pre-season
...
as the club reached the finals for the first time since 2013. Pearce played in the club's elimination final loss against South Sydney.
2021
In January 2021, Pearce stepped down as Newcastle captain after he allegedly sent text messages of a sexual nature to a female Newcastle staff member.
In round 3 of the
2021 NRL season
The 2021 NRL season was the 114th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 24th season run by the National Rugby League.
Teams
The lineup of teams remained unchanged for the 15th consecutive year.
Regular season
Ladd ...
, he played his 300th first grade game in Newcastle's loss against the
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional Rugby league, rugby league football team, based in the Inner West and South West Sydney. They have competed in the National Rugby League since being formed at the end of the 1999 NRL season as a j ...
. The following week, Pearce was taken from the field with a pectoral injury in Newcastle's defeat to
St. George Illawarra.
In round 24, Pearce kicked a field goal for Newcastle in the final minute of play which won the game for the club 15-14 over the
Gold Coast
Gold Coast may refer to:
Places Africa
* Gold Coast (region), in West Africa, which was made up of the following colonies, before being established as the independent nation of Ghana:
** Portuguese Gold Coast (Portuguese, 1482–1642)
** Dutch G ...
. The victory meant Newcastle would qualify for the finals.
On 27 October, Pearce requested a release from the final year of his Newcastle contract to join
Super League
The Super League (officially known as the Betfred Super League due to sponsorship from Betfred and legally known as Super League Europe), is the top-level of the British rugby league system. At present the league consists of twelve teams, of wh ...
side
Catalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons ( French: ''Dragons Catalans'', Catalan: ''Dracs Catalans'') are a professional rugby league club from Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. The team competes in the Super League and are the only team from ...
in 2022. The request release was granted on 15 November.
2022
In round 1 of the 2022 Super League season, Pearce made his club debut for
Catalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons ( French: ''Dragons Catalans'', Catalan: ''Dracs Catalans'') are a professional rugby league club from Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. The team competes in the Super League and are the only team from ...
where they lost 28-8 against
St Helens R.F.C.
St Helens R.F.C. is a professional rugby league club in St Helens, Merseyside who compete in the Super League, the top tier for rugby league in Great Britain.
They are the current Champions, having won the last 4 consecutive titles, and becom ...
Pearce finished the 2022 season scoring ten tries in 23 games. Pearce played in Catalans elimination final loss to
Leeds
Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...
.
Point Scoring Summary – Roosters & Knights (NRL)
Controversies
2014 King Cross nightclub
In May 2014 Pearce was fined $20,000 and suspended for one game by the Roosters following an incident in a
Kings Cross nightclub. A video broadcast on the
Nine Network
The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
appeared to show a woman in a yellow dress becoming agitated by Pearce's actions. She had made a complaint to the police, but did not proceed with further action. The police issued an infringement notice to Pearce for failing to leave the club when asked and banned him from the Kings Cross area for 48 hours.
2016 Australia Day party
On 27 January 2016 a video was aired showing an intoxicated Pearce forcing an unwanted kiss on a woman and, when rejected, simulating sex with her dog, after having urinated on himself and her couch. Within hours the Sydney Roosters released a short statement stating that they had advised the NRL's Integrity Unit of the incident and would conduct an internal investigation. The NRL, in turn, asked the Roosters for a report into the incident. Two days after the video was first aired, an emotional Pearce read a statement to the media apologising for his actions and acknowledging that he has a problem with alcohol. He left Australia shortly thereafter, for treatment in an "intensive rehabilitation facility for an extended period".
Following his return to Australia at the end of February, Pearce said that he had given up alcohol.
Shortly afterwards, Pearce overcame the impasse in negotiations between the Roosters and the NRL over the severity of his punishment by phoning his club and saying that he "deserved to be sidelined for a lengthy period.”
He was given a fine of $125,000, with $50,000 being suspended for two years, and an eight match ban.
Wedding postponement
In December 2020, Pearce's wedding was reportedly called off due to him sending text messages of a sexual nature to a female Newcastle staff member. Pearce's partner had reportedly also seen the text messages. Pearce spoke to the media about the wedding being postponed saying “It’s COVID mate … and it’s private,” Pearce said.
“We’re sorting things out. It’s a really stressful time for us. It’s our business, no-one else’s". Newcastle media manager Frank Barrett told The Daily Telegraph: “The Newcastle Knights are aware of the issue but it’s a private matter that stays between the two individuals".
References
External links
Newcastle Knights profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearce, Mitchell
1989 births
Living people
Australian rugby league players
New South Wales City Origin rugby league team players
New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin players
Newcastle Knights players
Newcastle Knights captains
NRL All Stars players
People educated at Barker College
Prime Minister's XIII players
Rugby league halfbacks
Rugby league players from Sydney
Sydney Roosters captains