Leadership tempted Mitchell Pearce to Newcastle and he will now have the chance to deliver on it after being named the club’s co-captain alongside Jamie Buhrer.
Pearce, left disappointed by the Sydney Roosters’ signing of Cooper Cronk just four months ago, completed his stunning off-field rise at the Knights when he was handed the co-captaincy at the club’s season launch on Friday night.
Previously a co-captain at the Roosters in 2015, the NSW State of Origin halfback now appears a different man at age 28 having found a home at the Knights.
“A big reason why I came here and why the club wanted me to come here and the other players is through leadership,” Pearce said.
“And I’ve been trying to invest in that as much as I can and help around with the standards.
“And now I’m co-captain my focus in that role I’ll try and do my best and keep improving that area.”
Pearce only arrived in Newcastle in December but his impact alongside eight other front-line recruits has been immediate.
The Knights have already booked out out each of their corporate boxes at McDonald Jones Stadium for the season, while chief executive Phil Gardner is already eying off potential waiting lists for sold-out season memberships in the coming years.
Pearce himself called for patience this week amongst Knights fans, just days after Nathan Brown admitted the team had perhaps been overhyped in the pre-season after three consecutive wooden spoons.
Either way the playmaker has already shown he is desperate to help turn the club around and return it to the kind of regular finals appearances he became used to at the Roosters.
“We’re building something really good I think. It all comes down to results. It’s going to be a big couple of years and I see heaps of upside,” Pearce said.
“From day one when I got here, it felt right. That’s why I wanted to be a part of the Knights.
“And since I have been here I have been blown away with how good of a club it is run inside from the staff to the players.
“To get named co-captain, I’ve not been here too long. That respect means the world to me.”
Buhrer’s return to the co-captaincy comes after he was also named among the leadership group in his first season at the club last year.
“Mitchell is our real on-the-field leader, so we thought that combination works well, as Jamie doesn’t play the whole game, all of the time,” Brown said.
“Jamie is someone that sets the standards and someone that challenges other people to do the right thing and, with Mitchell’s on-field leadership, that combination is the best way to go.”
Mushi
Guest
Bit of a long bow there, Pearce had a few leading up to that and was already a Captain when it happened. (one could also argue that punter was only leader because he stopped at 24 and Warne didn't) Plus you see Pearce off the field and he's not that engaged with his team mates except as it suits him. He's a quality footballer but best player =/= best captain
Mushi
Guest
I was pretty happy, as a Roosters fan that he was releived of the captaincy. I think the suspension was tough, given what others got, but it also wasn't his first foray.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I think Pearce will end up being a good leader.OK he has made some humdinger blues in the past offield. I put that down, to for some not everyone , impressionable youth wanting to be part of the scene, having a well known father and having to live up to his ideals and of course over imbibing. I am not going to pass judgement, been there. IMO he appears to have learnt form his mistakes.Hell anyone in their right mind, who wasn't embarrassed and humiliated by doggygate ,lacks emotion. He has a partner who appears to be a strong steadying influence, and a change of scenery and the added responsibility thrust upon him as co captain,will in my view bring out the man and leader taht stirs within him.
Roostermark
Guest
The title of the story was " Pearce making his mark as a true leader of men " and it's this point I am making, that he is not. Never said he was a bad player, just not good captain material.
Sword
Guest
And to add I think JT, Cronk, Slater, Inglis and Lockyer are all great players JT especially . But they all owe a huge thanks to Cameron Smith. He is just by far the best player the NRL has seen. To control the game with the amount of work he does and read the situation takes all the pressure off them and stacks huge amount of pressure on the opposisition. He has given them all what no other player ever has had by putting them in the position for the perfect opportunity to showcase their skills. When watching QLD's dominance and Slater constantly taking NSW's kick downfield and taking the ball on his chest on his own 30-40 metre line every game after game, kick after kick, year after year you can't help but wondering if Jarryd Hayne had of been the recipient the potential destruction he could have caused. He is an ironman and throughout their careers has always been a common denominator.
Sword
Guest
@Roostermark, have you been reminding everyone of that incident since it happened mate and degrading him. Being a rooster I would think you might of let it go and gave him another chance and got behind him because support is all Mitchell needs, he is week in-week out top 3 halfbacks in the NRL for around 6-7 years now, yet he has repeatedly been scrutinised throughtour career despite his achievements and the clear best halfback Nsw has to offer and the calibre of the opposing numbers that he is scrutinised on.
Roostermark
Guest
Actually it was, just not for the reasons it was infamous for. He was Co Captain and Pearce went against the team orders to go home after the boating club event and not only that he took two of the new at the time players along with him encouraging them to break the same team orders. Not really the leader the club was looking for and he was dumped as Co Captain because of it.
MuthaPhukkaJones
Guest
The Knights will be the 2018 big improvers.
Roostermark
Guest
The thing is all the off field stuff the criticism has been well and truly warranted, it's not like the Australia Day fiasco was his first indiscretion very very far from it, the Co Captaincy ( Roosters ) was given to Pearce as a means of trying to straighten him to be a leader on and off the field as he was one of the most senior players in the side. Don't get me wrong personally he's a nice guy who is a very good first grade player albeit with a few flaws.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I hope Pearce makes it up at Newcastle, both as a player and a leader. He is on big coin there and I hope he repays the club in spades. Its good he has a nice mix of young guys coming through and some experienced heads around as well.
KingCowboy
Guest
Still salty over Ponga leaving us to go to the Knights but I actually hope Pearce has a good year. Geez this guy has coped it over the years and it would be nice for him to have a good year.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
The Australia Day incident wasn't worth mentioning when it happened, so to regurgitate it years later is pretty pointless. I hope the move to the Knights is what Mitch needs to realise his potential. At the Roosters he seemed like he was waiting for someone else to provide the magical play in clutch moments, hopefully the added pressure of being expected to lead by example brings out what a lot of people have believed he possessed for years . And for the Knights and blues fans sake , I hope we've seen the last of him in a sky blue jumper. The Knights will give the eight a shake this year .
Paul
Guest
I reckon we've all done some things a few years ago we might have regretted. Just ask Ricky Ponting. He turned into a pretty good leader, so there's still hope for Pearce.
Nat
Roar Guru
I would have thought captaincy was one of the lures of getting him up there. Who are these other "frontline' recruits in the running? Guerra is maybe the only one close but 19yo Ponga or Watson? I wish him well but if he wasn't named Capt or Co as is the case, that would be a massive slap in the face.
Roostermark
Guest
He was Co Captain at the Roosters for a while and showed his value as "a true leader of men" when he went against team orders on Australia day a few years ago when he led two new players at the time Nikorima and Copley on a bender that made news nationwide.. Not saying he isn't a great guy but not great Captain material.