Much has been made of the perpetual pariah Mitchell Pearce and his recent Origin success after more than a decade of failure, and it is easy to see why.
The story writes itself as a redemptive arc that rivals those of the great ancient Greek parables and rugby league fans are fiends for easy narratives.
However, the celebrations are now complete and the players have rightfully received their accolades for sealing an excellent comeback win against Queensland, so let’s dig into what this really means for Pearce.
Redemption as a passenger only
James Tedesco and Damien Cook had incredible games that only add to their stature among the elite of the game. In addition to that, Jake Trjbojevic, Paul Vaughan, David Klemmer, Tyson Frizell and Boyd Cordner helped give New South Wales the edge it needed to reign supreme.
One name that should not be getting any plaudits for the vast majority of the games work is Mitchell Pearce.
In attack, he was largely impotent, throwing a frantic intercept at one stage and then running into the back of Tedesco as he made yet another break, squandering a potential game-winning moment.
As a game manager, he was average, failing to find much field position through his kicks and not taking control of the team as they became too lateral in the first half.
A lot has been made of his ‘game-winning pass’ but let’s be clear; the pass, while good, was not the defining moment of that try.
Tom Trjbojevic did exceptionally well to draw and pass to allow Blake Ferguson the space in which he brilliantly remained in and got the ball to Tedesco, whose clever footwork allowed him to score.
The pass was certainly very good and important in the overall try but it minimises the much harder work done by others to say Pearce should get credit for that try.
That being his defining moment in the game says a lot about how average he really was and when he had opportunities to win it earlier he couldn’t do it.
Was he noticeably bad? No, he wasn’t, but he wasn’t the game-breaker some have pegged him as.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Redemption against whom?
When you think of redemption, you think of someone performing against the same opponent they failed against previously and besting them. It is the core feature of all redemption arcs and one that Pearce’s sorely lacks.
He will never have a series win over the people who created his persona as a failed origin player; Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Darren Lockyer or Greg Inglis.
Those history books are closed and their reputations assured, with Pearce nothing more than a footnote among their great heroics.
Pearce winning against a largely new and untested Queensland side, without any of those greats, begs the question: just where is his supposed redemption? His white whale left long ago and all Pearce can do now is beat lesser imitations.
Unwanted redemption
Let’s not forget that the halfback role was vacant in Game 2, where a loss meant another series finished for the Blues.
Mitchell Pearce was available for selection until a ‘hip injury’ ruled him out, although curiously enough he managed to be fit for his next club game.
If Pearce really did pick up a minor injury it would also make sense he would have been rested during the game it occurred in, especially considering the Knights were thrashed 34-4 by the Storm and the game was all but done by the 60th minute.
Interesting then that Pearce still managed to play the full 80 there but was too injured to play for just one week, the week the Blues faced their biggest battle in quite a few years.
Other Blues greats would have no doubt stepped up to the plate, battling injury or not, and luckily James Maloney did just that.
It is undeniable Pearce has gone through more criticism, some far too personal, than anyone should ever go through.
I am happy he got his win if only for his mental health and you would be lying if you said you didn’t enjoy seeing his unadulterated joy when lifting the shield in front of the fans who have tormented him for so long.
But Pearce’s story is not of redemption but rather of tragedy. A great clubman who could never step it up to the next level and establish himself among the games premier players in a representative jersey.
Footy Fan
Guest
A biased & silly rant that doesn't reflect the game
Insider
Roar Rookie
“Comedy purposes”
Gus O
Roar Rookie
“Sorry I’m American”... that’s not an expression you hear very often from a US citizen. Sounds more like a Canadian?
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
Whoah! Another Pearce hate speech, real sook masterpiece from a cyclops north of the border! Get a life friend, you don't need to be a real smart ar$e to see that if Pearce was removed from the picture those events in the decider don't happen. His involvement in the team and especially that last play don't don't manifest IF he's not there. The game was so close and both teams wanted it so badly BUT NSW won it! While you're at it, you should write one of these types of articles about Ben Hunt as well - he played in the team that LOST!!!
bear54
I agree with everything in this piece. Mitchell should watch the replay of this game and retire from rep football with dignity.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
The author writes: “A lot has been made of his ‘game-winning pass’ but let’s be clear; the pass, while good, was not the defining moment of that try.” No it wasn’t a good pass, Tommy T had to pull up to catch it. Congrats on the win, but passing the ball to a bloke outside you who has a bit more space to work with is hardly a special move and it doesn’t deserve all this exaggerated hysteria. What Pearce did was give it to a team mate in a better position than himself, and backed up on the inside the whole way to the try line. He played a team role and didn’t go for a hero play himself. Thank. Goodness. How good is Tommy Turbo!
Big Daddy
Guest
Went to the Epping Hotel last night. Junior's band was playing. He was a bit more entertaining than Mitchell.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
This article is so wrong it's mind blowing. I've never been a Pearce fan, especially at SOO level (great club player but I never liked Easts so I was never interested in that). Even written an article to that extent. And while I understand what is being said here, the author demonstrates a lack of appreciation of the dynamics of the the game nor about Pearce's past involvement and 'failures' at origin level. Put briefly, Pearce's biggest failing came because he was seen - or saw himself as the guy to manage and control the team and engineer the wins. Works at club level because he is a great NRL player and his clubmen need him on a weekly basis - he's one of the best in the team. AT Origin however, he was surrounded by stars yet too often felt the need for the hero play - run himself when close to the line, took too much on himself to win the game and sometimes faltered and too often it wasn't the right option. Last Wednesday he contained himself, he involved his team, didn't try too much, didn't make mistakes and wasn't overly involved. While Maloney was having a poor game, Pearce didn't try and take over, he contained himself to his role and allowed others to have the stage. That would have been bloody hard. Yet at the death, he would have been feeling tired and sick with the sense of deja vu, Queensland charging back to win it at the end. Yet at the death he didn't try and take over, he didn't go for the Pearce hero play, he didn't freeze up he kept his cool and threw a risky, brave yet accurate pass with a clear head and great awareness of where people were . And played a major role in winning the game. Ben Pobjie (Roar expert) has written a good article about this [https://www.theroar.com.au/2019/07/11/one-pass-has-made-all-the-difference-to-mitchell-pearces-origin-legacy/] and it's a more worthy read than this one. Yeah, I get it that QLD didn't have the same cattle as previous years, I get it that Pearce didn't do a lot in this game and I get it that he wasn't there for the first 2 games and if they had smashed QLD the win might have been a bit empty and this article may have had legs. But QLD put on a huge fight, came back from the death and could have won the game which would have given Pearce nightmares out there but he tackled it in a very un-Pearcelike manner and opened the door for someone else to play the glory role. Like it or not, he took that monkey off his back and shot the buggar to death. Lay off the bloke and let him have some peace while that nasty little simian bleeds out and please stop trying to breath some life back into it.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I think the most silly aspect of the Pearce “redemption “ confection by the media was Gus Gould’s pathetic constant talking up Pearce’s “outstanding” form throughout the Game 3 match ? He obviously had some investment on the MOM award I assume ? All in vain again .
Don Lampard
Guest
Mitch Pearce was on the field - it's in the history books now. He played his part; slayed a few demons and we smacked the Maroons. How good is that!
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
They used to move players like him into the forwards years ago where they don't need to set up players around them so much.
Rossi
Roar Rookie
Latest example of the over the top Pearce rubbish, from a different news site: "If you thought Mitchell Pearce's match-winning pass was good..." Yep he put it on a platter for Tedesco, Turbo and Ferguson did nothing
Larry1950
Guest
Reaction to Mitchell Pearce seems to relate to which side of the border you come from or, until this season, whether you're a battler or silver spoon Sydney beaches product. I think he got all of us bananabenders offside by sledging 'old man' JT in a game where NSW got beaten & Pearce copped his deserved gobful back from JT at a scrum as the result became evident. In this series, he was about as effective as Cleary or Walker in the first two games, nothing more but a lot of us cane toads have long memories so the golden boy (now 30) has a lot to redeem. Humility doesn't come naturally to him & his number one booster, Andrew Johns, went way over the top in the post match interview. You'd be forgiven for thinking he played like Alfie Langer did in his origin return from the ESL. The old saying that 'Every dog has its day' proved correct finally.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Wasn’t born there I made it up for comedy purposes
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
":Sorry I'm American". You don't have to apologise. It's beyond your control where you are born.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Sorry I’m American Both mean a covering for a wheel you Aussies like being like us Americans only when it suits
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
You're probably right Markie362....(....and don't call Noosa Duck Shirley!)
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
It's "tyres". Today's youth are dragging down the standards of literacy.
Tyler
Roar Rookie
I couldn’t agree more about chambers. Was once labeled the best defensive centre in the game but there is no way he can be called that after his last 2 origin series. 8 missed tackles is out of control. His attack is even worse, he blew so many opportunities and constantly gets run down by the back rower! I would hate to play outside him
Insider
Roar Rookie
Mr Kearney Mr Kearney Markie made a spilling mestake