If there is one lesson that can be learnt from Sunday morning’s arrest of Roosters and New South Wales Origin star Mitchell Pearce, it is that every cloud has a silver lining.
The prayers of Blues fans far and wide have at last been answered, with this latest controversy possibly forcing Pearce out of the coveted No. 7 jumper.
At the start of the weekend’s NRL fixtures, Pearce at halfback seemed one of the few certainties for the NSW side. Now, even that has been thrown up into the air.
It appears that NSW has an unfortunate tendency to get caught up in controversies at the worst possible times.
More coverage:
Pearce ‘lunged at a woman’: report
How could Mitchell Pearce do what he did?
Who could forget Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan’s infamous night of drinking on the eve of NSW’s Game 2 camp last year, in which Ferguson was courted for indecent sexual assault? Or James Tamou’s brainless indiscretion that saw him arrested for drink driving without a licence?
With the abundance of controversy plaguing the Blues, it is difficult to envision a scenario in which they emerge victorious this year.
The State of Origin arena is no ordinary arena, however. Anything can happen in the pressure-cooker confrontations between NSW and Queensland. Blues fans must not dwell on the negatives, but rather focus on the endless possibilities that will ensue after this latest controversy.
Who will fill the shoes of Mitchell Pearce? How will it affect the rest of the team?
Should the NRL Integrity Unit convict Mitchell Pearce and withdraw him from the opening encounter, the door will have burst wide open for a host of players including Adam Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson and Albert Kelly.
On form it would be impossible for Laurie Daley to overlook Hodkinson, who has steered Canterbury to a number of clutch, last-gasp wins against some of the potential premiership contenders. He has formed a lethal combination with five-eighth Josh Reynolds, together guiding the Bulldogs to the top of the NRL ladder.
This isn’t to count out Adam Reynolds, however. Since his debut for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2012, Reynolds has found himself on the cusp of NSW selection, only to be overlooked for the incumbent Pearce. He has been instrumental in South Sydney’s performance across the past three seasons.
Albert Kelly shapes as the least likely of the trio to replace Pearce in the NSW team, despite his name being thrown into the air on the back of some scintillating play for the Gold Coast Titans. He has been the catalyst of his club’s sensational early-season form, which sees them sitting in third place on the NRL ladder.
Pearce’s likely unavailability will undoubtedly have an effect on the make-up of the remainder of the NSW squad, particularly in the position of five-eighth.
In 2013, Blues coach Laurie Daley made it clear that James Maloney’s dangerous halves combination with his Roosters teammate was a significant factor behind his inclusion in the team.
With Pearce now in doubt to take part in Origin I this year and Maloney in a slight form slump, there is every chance that he will lose his No. 6 jersey to one of Jarrod Mullen, Josh Reynolds or John Sutton – all of whom are already in the frame for selection.
Just who finds themselves with the six on their back could well come down to who wears the seven on theirs.
Of course, this latest controversy is yet another spanner in the works for New South Wales – a vast contrast to Queensland’s Origin preparation, which is nothing short of seamless year in, year out.
If New South Wales were to win Game 1 without the services of Pearce, it could mark the beginning of a whole new era for the Blues.
Dr Yes
Guest
I'm a Pearce supporter. There's too many commenters dishing cheap garbage hate. Whilst having pretty much no idea what they're talking about. Most of these comments have no idea of history of results, player relative performances, the nature of SOO pressure and toughness and in quite a few cases, the basics of how a team is put together and organised. Most of the comments and opinion pieces would be hillarious and embarrassing if they weren't so cheap, low and nasty. And many of these commenters are very obviously partisan fanboys for his underdeveloped competition for halfback. The selectors are so obviously on the right track, that someone needs to point this out to the harping buffoons
Dr Yes
Guest
Then challenge of deciding when & how to change-over halves is actually pretty simple: - Never just replace a starting half with a lesser half (in terms of big game results, and to a lesser extent, current form). Force the future candidate to pull ahead of the incumbent over a long period before they make the starting side (Cronk v DCE anyone?) - Encourage future candidates through junior reps, ongoing city-country, communications with rep coaches, etc - When blooding a new half, spend extended time (2 or 3 years) selecting from the very best of the candidates. Never pick just on a purple patch of form for 1 season. And very gradually groom them into the extended squad, then onto the bench and then into the starting side. If things don't work out, then it's during the grooming phase that they could be paralleled / replaced with another strong candidate. - Once a half makes the starting side, strongly stick with them and develop them for years - they're likely to fail before they succeed - Anticipate retirement a few years out, and start the selection & grooming process
F Cruz
Guest
Dr Yes - I am assuming you are a Roosters supporter? This one has well and truly been stale. Pearce has been tried and failed. Give the other halves partnership a chance. Stick with the new ones for the entire series and go from there.
Carlos
Guest
He was most likely, perfectly executing team plans that everyone was on board for, didn't work and they all played their guts out. He shouldn't cop the flack that he does. Im not an Rorters or tig's supporter, couldn't give a stuff about those teams, I just think that the frustration being expressed is the result of peoples own mental and personal weakness. FFS get over it, stop looking for a scape goat. NSW have done a great job the last couple of years. Each year they've had to assemble a bunch of players that didn't really know each other to play a QLD team that's a once in a generation group of players that due to the salary cap rorting of a couple of clubs have been able to play with each other at the elite level in the NRL comp over a number of years. Realistically NSW have had next to no chance and still gone close and yet we've all stood around and allowed them to be mercilessly and anonymously bagged by people who've probably never in any way put their own arses on the line.
Elron
Guest
How the hell is Pearce the best in NSW atm?? Despite being in the losing side, the Tigers rookie halfback completely outperformed him on Friday night esp with his organisation and kicking game. Mullen, just like Carney, have both had their odd games of brilliance but still are struggling to hit top gear due to injury hangovers. A. Reynolds and Kelly are not far off but need to improve by being more dominant in their playmaking. Big displays leading deep into the playoffs for their teams would definitely warrant SOO selection 2015 and beyond. The best halfback atm leading into this years series is Trent Hodkinson, hands down. Throw in his club five eight who has outplayed the incumbent Maloney also. Please Daley stop the eight years of insanity, surely it has to be the Bulldogs halves on form!
Brett the manly fan
Guest
We have bigger problems with injuries and charges to fafita and bird Our halves should be: James Maloney ,josh reynolds or Todd carney/Mullen is carney is injured still. Either of the four of them will play great for NSW As for our forwards 8 willie mason (with fafita and bird gone we need someone to spark the team) 9 Robbie Farah 10 James Tamou 11 anthony Watemough 12 Glenn stewart/ Tariq sims if Glenn is inured 13 Paul Gallen Interchange 14. Boyd cordner/Tim grant 15 TREX 16 Jamal idris (can play anywhere) 17 Luke Lewis if fit/ if not josh reynolds (and throw him in the forwards
xavialonso
Guest
Let's face it, we're stuck with Pearce. No one's really put their hands up. It just feels like yesterday when we had a waiting list of world class halves for the Blues side. Now we just have one "decent" firstgrader who leads the pack. We are buggard.
Red "v"ictory of Jerusalem
Guest
I was very happy to here this news and finally class and form might be selected over that stupid sentence "he's an origin player"! Hope Pearce is well and truly off the squad finally. Put the dogs halves in. They have the right aggressiveness and Reynolds makes up for what he lacks in class with mongrel and the opposite for hodkinson. Even though I was quite disgusted by Trent's dirty leg twist on Joel Thomson he is the bet halfback in nsw atm. They should be our halves.
Christian D'Aloia
Roar Guru
You only have to think back to last year to see the correlation. The Roosters surrendered the services of both halves, a star backrower, and a star centre and still managed to take out the minor premiership as well as the Telstra premiership.
Christian D'Aloia
Roar Guru
I agree with most of what you've said, although you would think that 12 games for NSW would be enough experience and confidence for Pearce to perform on the big stage. I'm sure the premiership would help though.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
What exactly did Pearce do that is so newsworthy. He got kicked out of a bar. The footage doesn't tell us a whole lot in regards to any wrong doing with the woman. Was it something he said ?? I'd be surprised if he is not selected based on what we have read and seen so far. As for the alternatives. Reynolds is not up to that level and not sure Hodkinson is either. He is having a good season so far after an injury plagued couple of years. Is he really ready to be thrown to the wolves and then the subsequent scrap heap. Pearce is the best of the bunch. He has played in two GFs winning one, perhaps the premiership win will give him the confidence to perform on the big stage.
Stephen
Guest
Jarryd Mullen is tough as nails, but I don't think his current form warrants selection as the NSW #6. For mine, Josh Reynolds is a 100% must for the run-on side. He has previous SOO experience coming off the bench and his club form is fantastic. Get him behind some dominant forwards (which NSW have) and I think NSW will go very close this year. If Reynolds plays 6, I would like to see Hodkinson play at 7 for all the reasons previously mentioned in this article/comments section. The Souths halves combination is deadly, but I would steer clear for a couple reasons. 1) Personally, I think John Sutton tends to go missing just when his team needs him, which is a characteristic that has been present in the NSW halves for a number of series. Thurston and Cronk have not always had blinders for QLD, but when QLD need something, one of them is always there to create something. 2) A.Reynolds would have to step up his ability to lead the troops around the park, not that he doesn't do this currently at Souths, but I think J.Reynolds has mastered this ability to a greater extent. There is also the added benefit of Reynolds and Hodkinson having a larger physical presence than Maloney and Pearce, which I think would be a benefit for rookie halves (i.e. QLD back-rowers won't be able to run over them on the fringes).
Conor Hickey
Roar Pro
Not every bloke is asked to leave two clubs in one night by security staff, and told never to come back to one. Well you might but I know I don't.
Gappy
Guest
After dropping Carney 2 year ago he coped the blame for the lost, last year lost again with no blame laid. Carney single handed near won the series for NSW. Pearce just isn't good enought we need a change and if we lose we can go bad to him. NSW have lose 8 what do we have to lose by trying let's try new player. Hayne Morris Morris Dugan Topou Reynolds Mullen Woods Farah Tolman Cordner Lewis Gal Jackson Watmough Fensom Reynolds. Plus take Taufua Finucane Moyan Tedesco and the like in camp and on the side line to get used to origin
joey nyugah
Guest
finally Nsw prayers have been answered... if Pearce doesnt play Nsw will win and Nsw will have a kicking game to pressure the back 3. maybe repeat sets. Pearce has a terrible kockong game for a 7, you can not argue with that.
Conor Hickey
Roar Pro
Stick and pick has obviously played a part in Qld's success, but you also have to consider that they have had the luxury of having the best halves in the game. Lockyer is one of the best ever to play, and Thurston and Cronk have not only been the Qld halves but the Australian halves, and throughout their Qld careers been amongst the best halves in the game. NSW's always seem to have form dips at the wrong moment, and really there hasn't been one half consistently at the top of his game over this time.
nayfo
Guest
Did anyone actually see the footage on 9 tonight. haha what a load of BS the bloke was no different to any bloke on the drink at the club. he has been dragged through the mud on this one, i've watched it a couple of times and he did stuff all it must have been a slow news day. would be surprised if pearce got in trouble from the integrity unit over this one let alone the police. haha what a joke!
turbodewd
Guest
Yes the spite is a bit over the top. But its based in frustration. I vividly remember 2-3 yrs ago when it was in Melb. 4 times Pearce bombed the same side of Qld. Twice Tate defused them easily. You would think after the 2nd or 3rd bomb he would try something different - but no. Alas Pearce is not a halfback of note. Hes a decent first grader for sure, but lacks offensive potency and trickery.
Pickett
Guest
As above comments show, there's a pretty strong correlation between premiership sucess and high representative selection. THink of the dynasties - Brisbane, Melbourne, Berries, Parra - all had huge reps selection during their heyday.
Mango Jack
Guest
I agree Carlos, some of the stuff you read is ridiculous. Some people feel the need to blame someone for anything that goes wrong, when the reality is that QLD have had superior players in key positions for several years now. No ones fault.