Mitchell Pearce has likely finished his time in the NRL after Newcastle finally granted the premiership-winning halfback a release on Monday.
As expected, the 32-year-old will join English Super League club Catalans Dragons in 2022 after being released from the final year of his Knights contract.
While Catalans are yet to confirm the length of Pearce’s deal, it’s been reported that he will head to Perpignan in France on a rich three-year agreement.
“Pearce requested a release from the final year of his current contract in late October, with both parties working through the process, making it effective immediately,” read a Newcastle statement.
“The Knights would like to thank Mitchell for his significant contribution since joining the club in 2017, celebrating many highlights including 300 NRL games and back-to-back finals series.
“The club wishes Mitchell all the very best for his future.”
There are several candidates to fill the void left by Pearce as Jake Clifford’s halves partner including new recruit and former Dragon Adam Clune.
Phoenix Crossland, Tex Hoy, Kurt Mann and Simi Sasagi can also play five-eighth. Meanwhile, the Knights continue to be linked to Wests Tigers general Luke Brooks despite the Concord club’s insistence that he’ll stay put.
Pearce, who signed an ultimately redundant one-year extension at Newcastle earlier this year, struggled with injury – including a pectoral problem – and was limited to 12 games in 2021.
A 2013 title winner and 238-gamer at the Roosters, as well as a 19-time NSW Origin representative, Pearce’s final match in NRL may have been September’s 28-20 qualifying final loss to Parramatta.
He has played 309 matches since debuting as a teenager in 2007.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Mark Waugh runs is the official term, apparently.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
All the best Pearcy. He's won a premiership (giving the sweet pass to Guerra for him to score and put us in front) and won a SOO series (with the overhead cut out pass for the winning try). He gave his all for the Roosters when he played for us. He was 'thrown to the wolves' against Cronk, Thurston, Lockyer at such a young age - too young, too early, too soon against arguably one of the greatest ever RL sides ever assembled. Enjoy France mate.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Poor Newcastle. :crying:
Tony
Roar Guru
:thumbdown:
Tony
Roar Guru
— COMMENT DELETED —
Tony
Roar Guru
Don't laugh
The Barry
Roar Guru
We spent a week in Paris and a week driving around the south of France… marseille, Montpellier, Avignon, aix-en-Provence, Perpignan (not necessarily in that order) Spent five days in Barcelona with friends, then two days in Madrid and and then spent a week driving down the Portuguese coast from Porto to Lisboa Loved that whole part of the world. The Catalans area either side of the border is pretty interesting… almost a nation to themselves as opposed to French or Spanish Also visited Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy on that trip… I’d give my left one to be there again… :stoked:
Phil
Roar Rookie
Avignon, Arles and Perpignan were the main places in that part of France I visited when over there. Got to know a few Aussies playing for Avignon at the time but never kept in contact. France was good but Spain was better, (cheaper grog.)
The Barry
Roar Guru
Cheers…
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Lock up your French poodles! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Redcap
Roar Guru
Dali was from Figueres, just the other side of the border. Perpignan was the first stop on his journey to acclaim outside Spain, or so the story goes. The square outside the train station is named after him.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
It might seem a little harsh on a young kid Larry but I see him getting hyped up and I can't for the life of me understand why. Clifford is 23 years old and has played 55 NRL games. Compare his form with Sam Walker 19 years and 21 NRL games. They are chalk and cheese. Even Lachlan Ilias (21 yrs) has shown more potential in one game in the NRL for the Bunnies. Blake Taaffe (22 yrs) and 8 NRL games certainly has. The same goes for Reece Walsh (19 yrs) and 16 NRL games and Jayden Campbell (21 yrs) and 7 NRL games. At least when Ash Taylor was hyped earlier in his career he was producing the goods and looked like he was an exceptional organiser. But making it in the NRL is all about consistency and repeat efforts each season. Some players are up to that challenge and others aren't. IMHO I don't think Jake Clifford has half the ability 23 yrs old and with 55 NRL games than Sam Walker just 19 yrs has already shown in less than half the games Clifford has played in the NRL. I wish the kid every success but I just don't think he has the ability to back it up, especially without a skilled experienced player to partner him in the halves.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Not as much as what will be reported. His contract was very incentive based. I think he was on about $500k, with big bonuses if they made the 8, 4, etc
The Barry
Roar Guru
Salvador Dali once said something like Perpignan railway station is the centre of the universe. I was there and didn’t see whatever it was that he saw I was only in Perpignan briefly. After a day of sightseeing with my wife we went into a pub to have a drink. There were intermittent roars coming from the back room. I went and checked it out and the Perpignan rugby team were playing and it was being televised live My wife found her way back to our hotel while I spent a very memorable afternoon drinking red wine and smoking Gitanes with my new French mates cheering on the local team …even though we could barely communicate with one another…
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Better players then he would have lost in Origin to those Qld teams, the fact he played for the Roosters is just pettiness and the dog was a non issue
Paul
Roar Guru
I wonder how much that frees up for the Knights salary cap? There's not a whole lot of quality halves out there who aren't on contract, but perhaps there might be an option or two in England?
Paul
Roar Guru
what could possibly go wrong!
Phil
Roar Rookie
I wish Pearce well in his new club. He's copped heavy criticism, some of it deserved but has played over 300 NRL games which is quite an achievement. He said he wasn't up to the rigours of another NRL campaign so he's been fair to his clubmates by seeking the release. It's a nice part of Europe he's going to there in southern France, very enjoyable lifestyle. On his days off he can slip down to Barcelona for a few cervezas and sol y sombres. I envy him, having spent a lot of time there almost half a century ago.
Nat
Roar Guru
He rightly should be remembered that way. However, Origin, the distaste for Easts and the Dog overshadow what was a very good NRL career up to and inc assisting the Knights to the last 2 finals series. His profile is already gone on the Knights page. Brutal.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think you could still make the case he was NSW best 7 around 2008 - 2018 With hindsight he was picked for NSW way too soon, but through most of his career he deserved selection as the form Blues halfback. Adam Reynolds may have played a few more games but for poorly timed injuries