From a Queensland rugby league fan’s perspective, there are three certainties in life: death, taxes and Mitchell Pearce losing an origin decider.
Mitchell Pearce is a polarising figure when the discussion turns to State of Origin, and fans north of the border are feeling very confident with his selection for New South Wales, replacing an injured Nathan Cleary for this year’s Game 3 decider in Sydney.
The reason Queenslanders are confident is Pearce has lost every one of the six origin deciders he’s been involved in and has an overall record of just five wins from 18 Origins, statistics which wouldn’t have Blues fans brimming with confidence either.
Over the years some of the criticism directed at Pearce during Queensland’s Origin dynasty has been somewhat unfair given many of his Blues teammates escaped criticism for their own shortcomings at Origin level.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
However, some of that criticism could be considered justified. He was accused of going missing when games were on the line and of being unable to manage and inspire the New South Wales side when they were under siege against the all-conquering Queenslanders.
Pearce made his Origin debut in a decider in 2008 as an inexperienced 19-year-old and later admitted he wished he never played Origin when he was so young.
State of Origin is a completely different beast compared to the NRL regular season, and we’ve seen many players selected when they were too young and not ready, leaving them mentally scarred. Cody Walker is an example from this year’s series, and although he’s not a young man in rugby league terms, in hindsight he was not ready for Origin.
Take Cody Walker’s Origin experience and how it must be affecting him and then multiply it exponentially to get an idea of what Pearce has had to endure over a decade-long representative career.
But times have changed for the Knights captain and New South Wales.
Pearce is arguably the best half in the NRL at the moment. His irresistible form in 2019 almost saw him selected for Game 1 ahead of Origin series-winning incumbent Nathan Cleary, only for injury to rule him out for the first two games.
After years of Origin failures, a suspension for a horrid off-field incident and being booted out of the Roosters in favour of Cooper Cronk, we are seeing a man who has put the dark days behind him. He’s matured into a great leader on and off the field and is in career-best form with Newcastle.
Pearce would know he’s the subplot story to next Wednesday’s decider and he’d also know he’ll be the most analysed and scrutinised player on the field.
One could only imagine the pressure he’s under to finally deliver for his state.
If he’s able to block out the mental demons and take a positive mindset leading into Game 3, he has an opportunity – perhaps his last – to right all the wrongs of his representative career and erase the decade-long torment at Origin level.
Pearce is now part of a squad who’d be feeling confident in with the belief they can make it two series wins in a row after mauling Queensland by 32 points in Game 2 in Perth. He’s playing alongside a resurgent five-eighth who he’s well familiar with, winning a premiership with James Maloney at the Roosters in 2013.
But perhaps most important is that for that first time in his Origin he’ll playing against a Queensland side no longer stacked with future immortals and hall of famers in the prime of their careers.
There’s the famous Johnathan Thurston sledge to Pearce in the Origin decider in 2015. New South Wales were being pummelled when Thurston suggested he take a picture of himself next to Wally – the statue of Wally Lewis raising the origin shield outside Suncorp Stadium – because that would be as close as he’ll ever get to the Origin shield.
The sledge is Origin folklore as far as Queensland is concerned; what would be Origin folklore for New South Wales would be an image of the much-maligned Mitchell Pearce finally holding the shield.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Mate I would be happy if he could just play a solid game and put on at least one try assist. Something he has failed to do for us repeatedly, which is why I bag him so much. Nobody else has been allowed to fail so spectacularly for so long.
Short Memory
Guest
Spot on. If you want to torture yourself even more, replay the final set. NSW tackled on the left side, ten metres out. Halves send the ball long to the right side - beautiful, crisp play - getting it to Crichton, outside his man, Munster. Morgan turns in, ready to help Munster, leaving Josh Morris unmarked and WIDE OPEN. All Crichton has to do is continue the movement, step right, draw Morgan and pass to Morris, and NSW win. Inexplicably, Crichton steps left and goes to the inside shoulder of Munster (stronger defender) with cover defence coming across. And the play is shut down. So close. But you don't get any trophies for close.
Richard POWELL
Roar Rookie
A bit premature, Matt. Remember back to game 1 – Wighton takes the tackle; maybe NSW score and definitely Qld don’t get the 6 point intercept try. At the time NSW had soaked up the best that Qld could muster for about 20 minutes, and NSW were starting to get on top. The intercept try is not scored and NSW win game 1 and romp in game 2 – NSW win the series. Good point that this is not the Qld team of old - Smith, Cronk, Thurston, Slater & co and no amount of hype will turn the present Qld team into a patch of those brilliant teams of yesteryear. In fact it’s disrespectful to even make the comparison. Kevvie has tried with something different. He always knew it was a bridge too far.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Excellent points Papi… maybe a MOTM performance is the only way to appease the masses south of the border
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
You're right Papi, if NSW win then Pearce gets little credit - other than 'right place right time'. He wasn't right to play games 1 & 2 - some saying mental as much as physical injury and now comes in riding a huge favourite. He needs a big, positive game, not needing to try and win it himself - but a huge influence to exit with total satisfaction. And if QLD win... I could see even JT running out on the field to ensure he's okay. It will be an unimaginable trauma...
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I think he wanted no part of the scars. Hence my comment that he would have done better if he could have been involved in all three games - and won -. I don't blame him or challenge his injury and I hope he gets it, for his sake. And I hope he has some satisfaction and can put it to rest. He has a great new life in Newcastle, that is what is important now.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
People will take the fact he didn't play the first 2 for sure, but a game 3 decider is, and probably fair to say, harder to win with what's at stake and Pearce is responsible for leading the team in this game. You have to wonder, with Pearce practically ruling himself out with "injury" for the first 2 games, whether he wanted no part of origin, despite what he said.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Yeah... when you consider how far he's come as far as his mental health and now being in a good headspace, you can't help to be concerned for him if NSW lose this game and how he's going to be treated.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
You had me at the title Adam. If NSW lose that phrase is destined to become a meme, if it isn't already. To be fair to Pearce though, he is on a hiding to nothing. If NSW lose then Pearce is the albatross around NSW's collective neck that we always knew he was. Irrespective of how badly others play it will be written off as Mitchell Pearce's fault. He is the convenient scapegoat. On the other hand should NSW win, especially given their resounding 32 point victory over QLD in game 2, then Pearce will have been the monkey that the Blues carried on their backs and won despite his involvement. The win will largely be credited to James Maloney and no doubt, James Tedesco, Damien Cook, Tom Trbojevic and possibly Jake Trbojevic and David Klemmer. In short anyone but Pearce! Even "Freddie Flintstone" will get more credit than Pearce. The ONLY way Mitchell Pearce can redeem himself, at least partially, is for NSW to win in a close finish with Mitchell Pearce having a blinder and winning the game for NSW in a "Man of the Match" performance. There is NO other way. For the sake of ALL of NSW's hopes I sincerely wish him well. But I am not getting my hopes up in regards to Pearce finally getting that Origin monkey off his back.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
No, what is even sadder is that if NSW win it could be a bit of a hollow victory as Pearce comes in at the death after NSW have worked their way into a winning position. Pearce needs to lead from game 1 to 3 and win a series to lay those demons to rest. And what is sad now is that before he was picked there was very little - if any - consideration that QLD would win this eries. Now, there is a lot...
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
You’re spot on about the most analysed and scrutinized in game 3. What’s sad is if qld win, Pearce is right back to where he started, getting blamed, mostly by nsw for the series loss. So unless he misses 2 easy tackles that leads to tries and squanders 2 certain tries by dropping the ball or making the wrong decision, he doesn’t deserve it.