Pearce has been reported as a done deal at Manly with Blake Green off ti the Warriors.
Seens like we have missed the boat on the halfback musical chairs...
Now go get a centre and another front rower. Ben Murdoch Masala is underrated and went to super league too early
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...sis-with-unahappy-player-20171118-gzo7t2.html
It's a Danny Weidler article, so reader beware but...I noted he isn't linked to the Knights anymore by Weidler - so maybe it means he's coming her now
:
Mitchell Pearce feels Roosters betrayed him as club faces PR crisis with unhappy player
by Danny Weidler
Deep down the Roosters were hoping Mitchell Pearce would recommit to the club during his holiday in New York and Hawaii. It didn't happen.
Now they are looking for a positive attitude when he turns up to training this week. Without it he may as well ask for a release.
I hear Pearce is still angry with the Roosters. He feels betrayed and the trust he had in the club will be hard to rebuild.
The Roosters are coming to realise they are in for a PR nightmare when it comes to Pearce.
If he stays, there will be pressure on Cooper Cronk should the club stumble. Critics will be calling for the club to reinstate Pearce as chief playmaker. If Pearce goes and succeeds elsewhere, the Roosters will have to wear that, too.
It's lucky Cronk is of strong character. He has adopted his new team already. As he was greeting Roosters and Kangaroos teammate Boyd Cordner he was heard to say "yeah the tricolours". But Cronk has done a lot more than just crack gags with his new teammates. He has also been proactive, calling Pearce to explain why he wants him to stay at the club.
"Those conversations will remain private," Cronk said. "But one of the attractive things about going to that footy club is to play with Mitchell."
Pearce has been bombarded by messages of support from his teammates, telling him they are in his corner and they want him to stay.
"I've been in contact with him whilst he's been on holidays and I didn't want to grill him," Cordner said. "I wanted him to get away from it all, but I've been checking in. It's probably going to be a big week for him. But everyone at the Roosters would love to see him stay. He is a Rooster. At the same time, I understand what he is going through and I'll support him 100 per cent. At the moment he is a Rooster and we hope it stays that way."
Pearce has been overwhelmed by the support from teammates. They clearly believe he is the heartbeat of the club. Pearce has also been flattered by calls from the likes of Paul Gallen and other Sharks players encouraging him to move to the Shire. Manly are also quietly confident they will snare him. But others say Pearce should look outside Sydney – at Melbourne, Townsville or Brisbane – and make a name for himself there. Those clubs have been powerhouses and going to a big, strong club should he leave the Roosters is considered a wise move.
The Roosters will sit down with Pearce in the next few days.
Meanwhile, Luke Keary doesn't want to miss a piece of the pie. If Pearce and Cronk are at the club there won't be huge dollars for Keary who will command a fat deal. It's thought the Gold Coast may have been sniffing around Keary hoping that he will leave. Keary is in talks with the Roosters to extend his stay.
