Bobby DIGital
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Feud as Pearce, Gower meet
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21900090-5006066,00.html
By James Phelps
June 14, 2007 12:00am
IT'S the grudge match 544 days in the making.
On Saturday night Mitchell Pearce and Craig Gower will go head to head for the first time since the Penrith halfback's career spiralled out of control after allegations he groped the Roosters halfback's sister and threatened Mitchell with a bottle.
But come kick-off at CUA Stadium, the 18-year-old son of Balmain legend Wayne Pearce will finally get his chance to square up when he confronts Gower on the field for the first time.
While both players yesterday predictably refused to talk – and others played the clash down – the headline-grabbing history between the pair suggests the battle will be anything but run of the mill.
Gower was stripped of the Penrith captaincy and slapped with a $100,000 fine after allegations he groped Pearce's teenage sister during a drunken rampage at a charity golf event on the Sunshine Coast late last year.
Gower was also accused of chasing Pearce around the room with a bottle after the young playmaker had confronted him about his actions.
Swimming legend Dawn Fraser publicly slammed the Panthers when they reinstated Gower as captain earlier this year.
Gower and Pearce have not crossed paths since.
Roosters captain Craig Fitzgibbon last night poured cold water on any fireworks – suggesting the two halfbacks would be focused on football and not each other.
"What happened on the Sunshine Coast is in the past," Fitzgibbon said.
"They are both professionals and would be focused on getting a win for the teams.
"That is more important at this stage of the year.
"I don't think Mitchell will be too worried about it and it hasn't been spoken off."
Fitzgibbon is confident Pearce's confidence has returned following a stint in the Premier League.
"Mitchell is a good young kid and you have to remember he is only 18 year old," he said.
"I think he will be a special player. There is a lot of pressure on him and he had a spell in reserves a couple of weeks ago but he played well last week."
League great Wayne Pearce was also reluctant to comment, saying: "It's a non-issue."
Roosters coach Chris Anderson said his young charge would not be affected by talk of a fiery exchange. "It's so far away from what we are doing it's not funny," Anderson said.
"It hasn't been mentioned. He will just go out there and play football."
But it remains to be seen how the pair will react when they come face to face for the first scrum of the match.
Although Gower would have been aware Pearce was a talented junior, he could not have imagined a year down the track he would be confronting him in a first-grade match.
Gower issued an apology to the Pearce family after the incident – but it won't be until Saturday night that we find out if all has been forgiven.
LOL I like the way the daily telegraph hypes it up....with photoshopped picture to boot!!
I hope Richie Williams goes to Penrith. Then we can have Williams V Anasta & Gower V Pearce in the same game.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21900090-5006066,00.html
By James Phelps
June 14, 2007 12:00am
IT'S the grudge match 544 days in the making.
On Saturday night Mitchell Pearce and Craig Gower will go head to head for the first time since the Penrith halfback's career spiralled out of control after allegations he groped the Roosters halfback's sister and threatened Mitchell with a bottle.
But come kick-off at CUA Stadium, the 18-year-old son of Balmain legend Wayne Pearce will finally get his chance to square up when he confronts Gower on the field for the first time.
While both players yesterday predictably refused to talk – and others played the clash down – the headline-grabbing history between the pair suggests the battle will be anything but run of the mill.
Gower was stripped of the Penrith captaincy and slapped with a $100,000 fine after allegations he groped Pearce's teenage sister during a drunken rampage at a charity golf event on the Sunshine Coast late last year.
Gower was also accused of chasing Pearce around the room with a bottle after the young playmaker had confronted him about his actions.
Swimming legend Dawn Fraser publicly slammed the Panthers when they reinstated Gower as captain earlier this year.
Gower and Pearce have not crossed paths since.
Roosters captain Craig Fitzgibbon last night poured cold water on any fireworks – suggesting the two halfbacks would be focused on football and not each other.
"What happened on the Sunshine Coast is in the past," Fitzgibbon said.
"They are both professionals and would be focused on getting a win for the teams.
"That is more important at this stage of the year.
"I don't think Mitchell will be too worried about it and it hasn't been spoken off."
Fitzgibbon is confident Pearce's confidence has returned following a stint in the Premier League.
"Mitchell is a good young kid and you have to remember he is only 18 year old," he said.
"I think he will be a special player. There is a lot of pressure on him and he had a spell in reserves a couple of weeks ago but he played well last week."
League great Wayne Pearce was also reluctant to comment, saying: "It's a non-issue."
Roosters coach Chris Anderson said his young charge would not be affected by talk of a fiery exchange. "It's so far away from what we are doing it's not funny," Anderson said.
"It hasn't been mentioned. He will just go out there and play football."
But it remains to be seen how the pair will react when they come face to face for the first scrum of the match.
Although Gower would have been aware Pearce was a talented junior, he could not have imagined a year down the track he would be confronting him in a first-grade match.
Gower issued an apology to the Pearce family after the incident – but it won't be until Saturday night that we find out if all has been forgiven.
LOL I like the way the daily telegraph hypes it up....with photoshopped picture to boot!!
I hope Richie Williams goes to Penrith. Then we can have Williams V Anasta & Gower V Pearce in the same game.
