For whatever you think he did wrong – the losses, the dropped balls, and even the girl in the yellow dress – Mitchell Pearce today asks for your forgiveness.
The state of NSW left the prodigious playmaker behind last year, when they ended a historic run of outs that has so often been pinned on the back of the Roosters halfback and threatened to place him in representative purgatory.
But Blues centre Michael Jennings says his teammate is seeking a pardon on Wednesday night, an opportunity to restore the faith.
“People need to forget and forgive. Everyone makes mistakes,” Jennings told AAP.
“Fans need to still be behind him, he’s going to put on a blue jumper.
“He wants to redeem his position and really say that he’s sorry for the stuff that he’s done and that he deserves to be in the position he’s in now.”
Pearce had played in the four previous Origin series’ without a win, before he was fined and stood down for a nightclub incident last May.
Now, for the first time in his career, Pearce will line-up in the unfamiliar position of five-eighth.
But he certainly won’t be a stranger to the outcries that came from both his axing from the squad last year and his lack of success in the Origin arena.
In fact, Jennings says his clubmate has grown quite accustomed to the scrutiny that came with being the face of the state’s losing run against Queensland.
“He’s the kind of player that used to take that stuff to heart, so this selection means a lot to him,” he said.
“To come from where he was last year and being snubbed, then getting called back up.
“He’s worked so hard and he’s always known that he has it in him. He knows the responsibility now. He’s matured.
“All the boys are excited for him.
“We can’t wait to get on the paddock – but he’s more excited than anyone else because he’s back in the team.”
Tonight’s match will be the 13th appearance in the sky blue for both Pearce and Jennings, more than any other player in the line-up.
Footy fan
Guest
What a joke....yes everyone deserves a second chance not five six or seven. It's no secret why Daley has put an out of form halfback in for Nsw and that is so the focus is off pearce and yet one more excuse to keep him in the team when they lose to Queensland and lose we will,for this reason I feel sorry for Hogo. They have been talking up pearce since before the 2015 season began and when you need to push a player this much to make a team it speaks volumes to me. It seems the only people that have real pride in the blue jumper is the fans, we don't want to see the Roosters v Queensland we want the best Nsw players on the field and until that day I am sad to say I will be saying go Queensland go.
Steve M.
Guest
I don't think many people think he is a poor footballer, more a good club footballer who has not been able to attain success at the representative level. Whether a confidence thing or not, to-night must be his last chance to prove himself.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Pearce tends to just play one way. 5th tackle, bomb....5th tackle, bomb. Got that from the Roosters
HarryT
Guest
Those people who claim that Mitchell Pearce is a poor footballer are wrong. He is very skilful and has demonstrated this many times. I have always seen him as a 'confidence' player, which explains to me why he goes missing when games are tightly contested. It is as though he is terrified of making a mistake and therefore losing the game. It is very hard for fellow players, coaches and fans to watch a talented player drift in and out of form because of his prevailing headspace. Let's hope he is full of confidence tonight.
Chappy
Guest
100% correct Squidward. I believe NSW forwards will just barely win the arm wrestle in the middle. So no more excuses for Pearce if he fails and no more chances. It's also very possible for Pearce to play well in a beaten team and bad in a winning team. So let's just wait and see.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
I don't know. For a lot of the bad run the NSW forwards made good inroads getting up the field and doing in their job. It was scoring points or putting QLD on the back foot from good kick options that was a major downfall
Freddy from Bondi
Guest
I pretty sure Pearce wasn't the only player to play in those series without wining! Why everyone puts the blame on him, I don't know. On almost every one of those occasions he was playing behind a beaten forward pack. Maybe some of the blame should have be placed on Watmough, Creagh, Bird, Stewart, Tamou, Scott and Gallen (to a lesser extent)...who got belted off the park in most of those matches. Good to see some new blood in the pack this year which is largely picked on form, not reputation! If the win their battle...watch Pearce shine!
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Black dogs, pusstcat dolls & yellow dresses: the Mitchell Pearce story.
maximillian
Guest
Everyone loves a good redemption story. I hope he carves up & gets MOTM! They could even make a low budget TV Movie about it.
pjm
Roar Rookie
He has Hodkinson with him, anyone can look good playing next to that slug. Just ask Josh Reynolds.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
He will be forgiven if he steers a series win. Nothing more. Nothing less