Mitchell Pearce set to join the Newcastle Knights
MITCHELL Pearce is set to join Newcastle on a four-year, $4 million deal after walking away from the Roosters.
The 28-year-old quit the Bondi club after it secured the services of former Melbourne playmaker Cooper Cronk and according to a report by
The Daily Telegraph, will play for the Knights in 2018.
Newcastle has beaten Cronulla and Manly in the race for Pearce’s signature. Per The Daily Telegraph, the Knights’ offer is worth $1 million more over the four years than the SHarks were able to offer.
Newcastle has “won” the past three wooden spoons but has been active in the market as it bolsters its roster ahead of the 2018 season.
Pearce’s former Roosters teammates Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Aiden Guerra and Connor Watson will all wear the blue and red next year, as will young gun Kalyn Ponga after he was lured south from the North Queensland Cowboys.
Veteran Sharks back-rower Chris Heighington and Brisbane outside back Tautau Moga have also joined the club.
Pearce was unhappy the Tricolours signed Cronk after the Queensland and Australian halfback moved to Sydney to be with his fiance Tara Rushton. He wanted to be the leader in the No. 7 jersey, not play second fiddle in the halves or risk being forced to come off the bench to share the hooking duties with co-captain Jake Friend.
The Roosters wanted Pearce to stay but after reflecting on his situation during an overseas holiday, he decided it wasn’t in his best interests to remain at the club where he’s spent his entire NRL career.
Newcastle legend Matty Johns called Pearce to convince him to ply his trade in the Hunter, and his words appear to have done the trick — or at least helped.
Johns — brother of rugby league immortal Andrew — spoke to Pearce after the Roosters officially released him to explain the benefits of playing for Newcastle. He told
The Daily Telegraph he relayed how the community would embrace the NSW Origin star and assured him he’d be playing for a team going places after suffering through some dark times of late.