HE’S heard the criticism and knows defeat in the State of Origin decider will end his hold on the NSW halfback spot, but Mitchell Pearce is ready to silence the doubters and lead the Blues to victory.
Pearce is one of just three players in the current side who were part of the team that last had the chance to win a series on home soil in 2008.
The playmaker was a fresh-faced 19-year-old thrown into the deep end by NSW coach Craig Bellamy at ANZ Stadium but could do little to stop the Maroons as they chalked up a 16-10 win to claim win the series 2-1.
Pearce openly admits he was nowhere near ready for that baptism of fire.
But five years on and being part of a Roosters side that sits in second spot on the NRL ladder, he feels he has the confidence to prove his critics wrong on July 17 and end Queensland’s seven years of dominance.
“It was all a bit of a blur, I was called in because there were a couple of injuries … it was all a bit surprising but you are not going to say no,” Pearce said.
“It was one of my proudest moments. But I was so young I was just happy to be there.
“But when you are that age you are cocky and confident and you think ‘it’s awesome I can go good’ but in hindsight I wasn’t ready.”
No player seems to polarise opinion more than Pearce among NSW fans and with South Sydney’s Adam Reynolds breathing down his neck, the pressure’s on the 24-year-old.
However, he says his form for the Roosters is as good as any halfback in the NRL but he needs to transfer that to the Origin arena.
“After these games everyone marks you out as being hopeless but I feel I have been playing very well for the Roosters,” he said.
“I came out of the second Origin and have put on two big performances.
“But I am not naive enough to know that I’ve had the honour and the privilege of being trusted to get a result for this team and we haven’t won so far.
“If things don’t go to plan they may look somewhere else.”
As for the criticism levelled at him after the defeat in game two in Brisbane, Pearce said he can’t and doesn’t let it affect him.
“It’s the best time of your life Origin, but it’s very draining the whole period. But you have to embrace it.
“Opinions are like arseholes everybody has got one and that is just the way the world is.
“This is the pinnacle of rugby league – you are going to hear a thousand different opinions.
“There’s no doubt no one likes getting grilled. But I don’t waste my time sitting there on forums worrying about what people write.
“That’s why we get paid good money to play. But I know with a win next Wednesday means all of that changes.” - AAP
[ Source: Australian Times ]