Mitchell Pearce

[Big Pete]

Tell that to Brad Fittler and Loz who both started young and were successful.

Why? They'd probably say the exact same thing.

They'd also say of all the candidates, that Pearce is the only qualified player putting their hand up which I'd agree with.

 

[Pedge1971]

The Maroons were far too good in all their series wins. Even in the close games, Queensland had experience where it mattered most and the Blues could have had Mullen, Orford, Campese, Carney, Soward, Hornby or whatever other 'amazing' alternative was, the result was always going to be the same.

I'm not discrediting the Blues effort in 2014 either, rather Pearce's omission wasn't the difference between victory or defeat.

Is that why your mates are over in the origin forum giggling about his selection?

I do not believe Qld have been WAY too good in a lot of the series wins. Origin games are generally very tight affairs and at key moments in each match either team is given an opportunity to swing the match their way, seize momentum and go on to win. Qld more often than not have managed to make that play, NSW more often than not frozen, shat the bed or whatever you want to call it.

Pearce plays a positon where more often than not he needs to create or execute that play and he cannot hold his nerve. That is not a scapegoat.

Anyway he is picked not so we roll the dice again. I hope he succeeds cause we win. But would you back him?

 

[OldPanther]

Why? They'd probably say the exact same thing.

They'd also say of all the candidates, that Pearce is the only qualified player putting their hand up which I'd agree with.

And people wonder why we keep losing. We found a good team last year worth building on through luck (injuries) and it gets thrown out with nonsense logic like this. I really hope they prove me wrong and smash QLD though.

 

[Big Pete]

Is that why your mates are over in the origin forum giggling about his selection?

Sure, but any other selection would have left us confused.

I do not believe Qld have been WAY too good in a lot of the series wins. Origin games are generally very tight affairs and at key moments in each match either team is given an opportunity to swing the match their way, seize momentum and go on to win. Qld more often than not have managed to make that play, NSW more often than not frozen, shat the bed or whatever you want to call it.

They're tight games but invariably that's where the class players and game winners step up. Queensland have generally held that advantage.

Pearce plays a positon where more often than not he needs to create or execute that play and he cannot hold his nerve. That is not a scapegoat.

Anyway he is picked not so we roll the dice again. I hope he succeeds cause we win. But would you back him?

I wouldn't have any other choice.

There have been times where I wouldn't have, but there's no other candidates.

 

[Big Pete]

And people wonder why we keep losing. We found a good team last year worth building on through luck (injuries) and it gets thrown out with nonsense logic like this. I really hope they prove me wrong and smash QLD though.

That NSW should pick the best #7 available? Horrible logic.

Moylan had little to do with the Blues dead rubber win.

 

[Cockadoodledoo]

And people wonder why we keep losing. We found a good team last year worth building on through luck (injuries) and it gets thrown out with nonsense logic like this. I really hope they prove me wrong and smash QLD though.

We keep losing because Queensland have got a bunch of future immortals in their team. I cannot get over the Panthers fans getting their knickers in their knot over Moylan not being in the team. How are Penrith going this season? If Moylan was so great, wouldn't they be doing a little better? Or do you just blame Pearce for NSW's failures but not Moylan for Penriths.

I am also for the record someone who has been heavily critical of Pearce as a Roosters player, those here who post on the The Chookpen will know that. However I am also smart enough to know that to win origin, you don't start shifting players in important positions, out of position to accommodate someone whose form has at best been inconsistent this season.

 

[OldPanther]

That NSW should pick the best #7 available? Horrible logic.

Moylan had little to do with the Blues dead rubber win.

Him and Maloney did their jobs better playing out of position than Pearce ever has at origin.

Edit: missed a word

 

[Spot On]

There's going to be lots of keyboard tough guys missing when Pearce leads NSW to a 3-0 whitewash this year.

Let's hope so.

And if he doesn't?

 

[Big Pete]

Him and Maloney did their jobs playing out of position than Pearce ever has at origin.

Maloney was in his position and played well, I'm glad for the Blues sake he was retained.

Moylan added little, both in his favoured position where he was a liability and in his back-up role. He 'deserved' his position as much as Farah did in reality.

Fortunately for Penrith, he may actually concentrate and start playing the brand of football he's capable of. He's been a colossal disappointment this year. Couldn't even inspire his NSW Cup side to beat the Knights NSW Cup side. Some player...I would have been spooked to have seen him in the 7.

 

[OldPanther]

We keep losing because Queensland have got a bunch of future immortals in their team. I cannot get over the Panthers fans getting their knickers in their knot over Moylan not being in the team. How are Penrith going this season? If Moylan was so great, wouldn't they be doing a little better? Or do you just blame Pearce for NSW's failures but not Moylan for Penriths.

I am also for the record someone who has been heavily critical of Pearce as a Roosters player, those here who post on the The Chookpen will know that. However I am also smart enough to know that to win origin, you don't start shifting players in important positions, out of position to accommodate someone whose form has at best been inconsistent this season.

The Panthers issues are the coach's mismanagement of the team. This isn't a secret.

Stats Moylan and Pearce:

Tries 4 each

Try assists: p 7, M 4

Line break assists: P 6, M 9

They are dead even for the key stats you can reasonably campare between the two. That's with pearce having a forward pack that is performing better in front of him.

 

[OldPanther]

Very good article summing up the situation:

http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/05/23/enough-mitchell-pearce-redemption-stories/

 

[Caped Crusader]

Haha you can always count on Big Smug to come in and be a contrarian

 

[Apey]

QLD are too good so we should keep picking someone who we know for certain can't come up with any answers. Ok good chat Big Pete.

 

[typicalfan]

Problem is while Pearce may have been poor at origin he was carving up winning premierships and minor premierships I think the selectors were just thinking it was a matter of time. Well its now or never I think.

 

[Big Pete]

QLD are too good so we should keep picking someone who we know for certain can't come up with any answers. Ok good chat Big Pete.

See, I question the certainty part of that statement.

Granted, I don't think Pearce should have been selected all the times he was but in this instance, he's the best candidate for the role. I think using his past record against him is unfair considering he was thrown into the deep end as a 19 year old and persisted with as a 'project' player because other alternatives were too few and far between.

At the end of the day, he's had to shoulder the blame for an entire generation of mediocre NSW playmakers.

 

[Apey]

Problem is while Pearce may have been poor at origin he was carving up winning premierships and minor premierships I think the selectors were just thinking it was a matter of time. Well its now or never I think.

First part is true enough. Last comment though... http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/threads/is-this-do-or-die-for-mitchell-pearce.463947/

Oh look the same thread in 2011
https://forums.leagueunlimited.com/threads/is-this-mitchell-pearces-last-chance-in-origin.383454/

An article about his redemption* (*coming soon)
http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/05/23/enough-mitchell-pearce-redemption-stories/

The point being this is an old age defence of Pearce's selection, if he fails again we all know it won't really be never.

See, I question the certainty part of that statement.

Granted, I don't think Pearce should have been selected all the times he was but in this instance, he's the best candidate for the role. I think using his past record against him is unfair considering he was thrown into the deep end as a 19 year old and persisted with as a 'project' player because other alternatives were too few and far between.

At the end of the day, he's had to shoulder the blame for an entire generation of mediocre NSW playmakers.

I don't think using his past record against him is unfair at all given NSW do it all the time for other players who get rubber stamped after one match. He is complete Teflon in this regard. However we need to be a bit clearer on what we mean by record. W/L record is not in his favour but it's a harsh individual criticism for him or anyone for that matter, there are 17 people on the team and 17 on the opposition team. I don't take it to mean much. Individual performances are a much better gauge... and he's been absolute rubbish in that regard too.

I'd say he has to shoulder the blame for an entire generation of NSW playmakers not getting a fair go but it's not his fault he keeps getting picked. Using past records/individual performances at origin level against players is okay as long as they aren't Mitchell Pearce.

 

[typicalfan]

It would be nice for him to have at least decent competition for his jersey. Hodkinson is a shadow of his former self and wasn't that great anyway and Reynolds has missing parts of his game. Lucky Maloney is as good as he has ever been.

 

[Pedge1971]

Very good article summing up the situation:

http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/05/23/enough-mitchell-pearce-redemption-stories/

Totally sums up most peoples annoyance with the Pearce Origin thing.

 

[Big Pete]

I don't think using his past record against him is unfair at all given NSW do it all the time for other players who get rubber stamped after one match. He is complete Teflon in this regard. However we need to be a bit clearer on what we mean by record. W/L record is not in his favour but it's a harsh individual criticism for him or anyone for that matter, there are 17 people on the team and 17 on the opposition team. I don't take it to mean much. Individual performances are a much better gauge... and he's been absolute rubbish in that regard too.

I'd say he has to shoulder the blame for an entire generation of NSW playmakers not getting a fair go but it's not his fault he keeps getting picked. Using past records/individual performances at origin level against players is okay as long as they aren't Mitchell Pearce.

A lot of fair points being raised.

Good post Apey.

The biggest problem with Pearce is that he was thrown into the deep end far too early. NRL debut at age 17, expected to guide a struggling Roosters outfit, Origin debut a year later in a series decider no less and becomes a fixture not long after. If other players had have stepped up and allowed Pearce to develop his game naturally, I believe the general concensus would be far more different than what it is.

As it stands, he's the safest bet NSW have at 7. He doesn't need to star for NSW next week, as long as he can be solid and give the likes of Tedesco, Maloney & Hayne an opportunity he would have done his job effectively.

 

[OldPanther]

A lot of fair points being raised.

Good post Apey.

The biggest problem with Pearce is that he was thrown into the deep end far too early. NRL debut at age 17, expected to guide a struggling Roosters outfit, Origin debut a year later in a series decider no less and becomes a fixture not long after. If other players had have stepped up and allowed Pearce to develop his game naturally, I believe the general concensus would be far more different than what it is.

As it stands, he's the safest bet NSW have at 7. He doesn't need to star for NSW next week, as long as he can be solid and give the likes of Tedesco, Maloney & Hayne an opportunity he would have done his job effectively.

I really hope he does it. More than anything I want QLD to get smashed. If necessary the coach should just simplify his role. Get him practicing his attacking kicks in combination with the team and his passing game. He does have the ability and we have a good enough forward pack for him.