If the New South Wales Blues’ No.7 gets some support outside him like Carney offered in 2010, look out. Even though he was bitterly let down by his playmakers and supports last season, Pearce still outshone a bunch of the premiership’s leading halfbacks. The Roosters put in a shocker, and Pearce seemed to be tarred by the same brush. But not so: the tricolours may have scored just the fourth-fewest tries but Pearce still tallied 19 try assists, the third-most by any No.7 – and more than Daly Cherry-Evans, Chris Sandow, Cooper Cronk and Scott Prince. Also, his 15 line-break assists were third most. Yes, his two line-breaks (third fewest) were way down on his eight from 2010 – but put that down to lack of opportunity given flat, lacklustre forwards and a navel-gazing Carney. If the pack regains momentum and Kenny-Dowall goes up a gear expect Pearce, and the Roosters, to have a huge season.
