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North Shore Times 11/03/05 David Rowlands
Old rivalries re-born
A humble junior representative rugby league game is about to make one famous North Shore father feel very strange and have a generation or two of Sydney sports fans asking where the years have gone.
The sons of former internationals Wayne Pearce and Garry Jack will play in Sundays Harold Matthew Shield game at Leichhardt Oval between Balmain and North Sydney.
That in itself may not be considered so extraordinary, given the standing that both men have in Balmains history.
However the twist comes from the fact that the two teenagers will be opposing each at five-eighth for the first time.
Rhys Jack will sport number six for the Tigers, while Mitchell Pearce will be marking him for the Bears.
Both young men were probably destined to play football on Leichhardt Oval one day, albeit in gold and black, not red and black.
Mitchell has already worn North Sydney colours onto the arena his father graced in his 11 years of first grade league, having played there in last years NSWRL under-16s competition, but the sensation of cheering for Balmains opponents wont be any less peculiar for the Tigers favourite son.
Stressing that blood is thicker than water, Pearce affirmed his unmitigated support for Norths in this encounter, before adding he would always be a Tiger at heart.
Whereas Pearce was born and bred in the Balmain district, then sold hotdogs at Leichhardt Oval as a kid during first grade matches, Mitchell has lived all of his 16 years on the upper North Shore with his family and goes to school at North Sydney.
Mitchell was once the Tigers ballboy when his father was their first grade coach and he played with North Ryde before switching to Asquith in the under-13s, thereby becoming a North Sydney junior.
Itll be strange, I guess, but from my point of view, the main thing is hes enjoying it, no matter who he plays for, said Pearce, whose only other association with rugby league these days is as a commentator on FoxSports.
While Pearce forged a career as one of the codes greatest backrowers, it would surprise most football followers that his son is playing in a vastly different position, however the popular figure known as Junior revealed to the North Shore Times that he actually began his career as a five-eighth before outgrowing it.
Pearce doesnt think Mitchell will follow his path into the forwards, though.
Hes got plenty of skill a lot more than I had! he admitted.
Pearce and Jack wont be the only famous names to feature on Sunday, with Brad Horder, a distant relative of North Sydney relative Harold Horder lining up at fullback for the Bears.
Old rivalries re-born
A humble junior representative rugby league game is about to make one famous North Shore father feel very strange and have a generation or two of Sydney sports fans asking where the years have gone.
The sons of former internationals Wayne Pearce and Garry Jack will play in Sundays Harold Matthew Shield game at Leichhardt Oval between Balmain and North Sydney.
That in itself may not be considered so extraordinary, given the standing that both men have in Balmains history.
However the twist comes from the fact that the two teenagers will be opposing each at five-eighth for the first time.
Rhys Jack will sport number six for the Tigers, while Mitchell Pearce will be marking him for the Bears.
Both young men were probably destined to play football on Leichhardt Oval one day, albeit in gold and black, not red and black.
Mitchell has already worn North Sydney colours onto the arena his father graced in his 11 years of first grade league, having played there in last years NSWRL under-16s competition, but the sensation of cheering for Balmains opponents wont be any less peculiar for the Tigers favourite son.
Stressing that blood is thicker than water, Pearce affirmed his unmitigated support for Norths in this encounter, before adding he would always be a Tiger at heart.
Whereas Pearce was born and bred in the Balmain district, then sold hotdogs at Leichhardt Oval as a kid during first grade matches, Mitchell has lived all of his 16 years on the upper North Shore with his family and goes to school at North Sydney.
Mitchell was once the Tigers ballboy when his father was their first grade coach and he played with North Ryde before switching to Asquith in the under-13s, thereby becoming a North Sydney junior.
Itll be strange, I guess, but from my point of view, the main thing is hes enjoying it, no matter who he plays for, said Pearce, whose only other association with rugby league these days is as a commentator on FoxSports.
While Pearce forged a career as one of the codes greatest backrowers, it would surprise most football followers that his son is playing in a vastly different position, however the popular figure known as Junior revealed to the North Shore Times that he actually began his career as a five-eighth before outgrowing it.
Pearce doesnt think Mitchell will follow his path into the forwards, though.
Hes got plenty of skill a lot more than I had! he admitted.
Pearce and Jack wont be the only famous names to feature on Sunday, with Brad Horder, a distant relative of North Sydney relative Harold Horder lining up at fullback for the Bears.
