Pearce

[Old Time Tiger]

Wests Tigers looking to poach Mitchell Pearce

WESTS Tigers have made secret enquiries about bringing NSW Origin halfback Mitchell Pearce to the club where his father, Wayne, is a legend.

The Roosters are bracing themselves for a battle to retain a player they see as a future captain, with Pearce's agent confirming he will go on the open market on November 1, when rival clubs are free to negotiate with players off contract at the end of 2013.

"It is difficult to measure the worth of a player of Mitchell's calibre," said his agent Mike Newton. "So it would be in his best interest to test his worth on the open market before agreeing to a new deal."

Pearce is expected to attract offers of as much as $650,000 a season for 2014.

"We are in no hurry to do anything with Mitchell's contract," Newton said. "There is certainly no rush. The club is eager to extend his contract and Mitchell loves the place and certainly would like to stay.


"But we aren't in a hurry and we need to see how some things play out, especially with the TV rights deal and what it will mean for the salary cap, and how the new CBA (collective bargaining agreement) will be structured."

Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce was reluctant to elaborate on Pearce's contract situation beyond next year, but the Bondi-based club is aware the Tigers are looming as their biggest threat in keeping the playmaker.

Tigers recruitment manager Warren McDonnell confirmed asking about Pearce's availability but distanced himself from the prospect of snaring the star half.

"I make calls to hundreds of managers and speak to them all the time," McDonnell said. "That is nothing unusual, but we are very happy with our halves, having Benji Marshall, Curtis Sironen going well, Braith Anasta coming and Jacob Miller coming through."

Landing Pearce would be a major coup for the Tigers and a homecoming for one of the club's most famous names.

His father Wayne played 193 games for the Tigers in a one-club career that lasted 11 years.

Pearce is just one of a host of playmakers off contract at the end of 2012 with an unprecedented $4.6 million worth of playmaking talent will be up for grabs as clubs scramble to lock down their most valuable players beyond 2013.

An interesting rumour, plenty of if's and but's. If it was true, but where does Curtis end up as Benji would go to 6. Anasta to 13 or BRET? Heighno to the UK? Miller will most likely kick on when he signs elsewhere, but I had to laught with the following

Jacob Miller coming through

.

 

[Tiger05]

I don't really want him.

When he started playing he came across as shunning the club and we have lots of good players in the halves at this point.

 

[The Charlatan]

Do we have a salary cap?

If we do manage to get him, I'd take a guess and say that Benji goes back to six, Curtis will most likely end up at lock and Anasta will shift into second row. The scary thing will be that in 2014 Benji will only be 29 and still have a good two or three years up his sleeve.

 

[sputneek]

Pearce won't go to you :lol: Enjoy Captain Bwaiff

 

[Shanghai Charlie]

1. Tedesco
6. Marshall
7. Pearce
13.Sironen
9. Farah

14. Anasta

I'd be happy with that spine.

 

[T.T]

with pearce, who do we let go.. heigno, ellis.. is that enough?

 

[Radical Rat]

I'd kill to get Pearce to the Tigers. I'd kill Anasta if need be.

 

[woodyk2]

The Tigers could have two halves who cant tackle.

 

[Shanghai Charlie]

with pearce, who do we let go.. heigno, ellis.. is that enough?

Great spines win premierships.

I'd lose a potential rep front rower like Woods for an excellent halfback like Pearce. Melbourne and plenty of other sides in last 30 years have shown what you can do with ordinary front rowers and a great spine.

 

[Front-Rower]

Great spines win premierships.

I'd lose a potential rep front rower like Woods for an excellent halfback like Pearce. Melbourne and plenty of other sides in last 30 years have shown what you can do with ordinary front rowers and a great spine.

A great halfback? Mitchell Pearce? Robbie Farah's kicking game is ten times better than Mitchell Pearce's.

We do not need him.

 

[the beavers]

Surely moltzen would be moved on too?....

 

[Radical Rat]

Great spines win premierships.

I'd lose a potential rep front rower like Woods for an excellent halfback like Pearce. Melbourne and plenty of other sides in last 30 years have shown what you can do with ordinary front rowers and a great spine.

Wow, the fact that you are willing to lose Woods for anyone is mind boggling.

I'd love to get Pearce, but I wouldn't lose Woods for anyone in the whole comp. The best half in the world is completely useless without the go forward and work rate of a player like Woods.

 

[innsaneink]

Great spines win premierships.

I'd lose a potential rep front rower like Woods for an excellent halfback like Pearce. Melbourne and plenty of other sides in last 30 years have shown what you can do with ordinary front rowers and a great spine.

:lol:

Youre off your tree....thank christ you aint doin the recruiting

 

[Shanghai Charlie]

There's a reason why Bennett famously won't pay over 300K for props and that's because there's 100 of them out there that can do a basic job and a basic job is all you need from props because class and direction through the spine wins premierships.

Look at what Melbourne get out of the likes of Ryles, Norrie, Lowe, Browich etc.
Look at Raiders with rep props Shillington, Leoroyd Lars and Brett White...

I'll take a classy spine over big name props any day even sacrificing maybe our best prop since Steve Roach.

 

[Tiger05]

I would rather keep Woods than get Pearce.

I'm not even sure that I want Pearce at the club at a reasonable cost.

 

[Radical Rat]

There's a reason why Bennett famously won't pay over 300K for props and that's because there's 100 of them out there that can do a basic job and a basic job is all you need from props because class and direction through the spine wins premierships.

Look at what Melbourne get out of the likes of Ryles, Norrie, Lowe, Browich etc.
Look at Raiders with rep props Shillington, Leoroyd Lars and Brett White...

I'll take a classy spine over big name props any day even sacrificing maybe our best prop since Steve Roach.

Yeah and look how Bennett's forward pack is going now.

It all starts up front. Woods is a very, very special player. Like I said, there's not a player in the comp I would swap him for.

 

[R2Coupe]

Woods was signed at a young age using money from the WTs NRL salary cap to stop him being poached by other clubs. This was a decision of great foresight. He is a player you build a team around. Sironen is another and Lovett is also a talent. Actually all three were signed at a young age. The best part about it is they are all part of the WTs ie Balmain and Wests junior production.

 

[851]

Would love Pearce,but not at the expense of Woods,Heighno,Moltzen,Lote,Utai,Bell, and maybe Fulton but not Woods.

 

[T.T]

in theory if heighno, lote, ellis, and fulton being let go. we should be able to sign 2 marquee players

 

[glockers]

There's a reason why Bennett famously won't pay over 300K for props and that's because there's 100 of them out there that can do a basic job and a basic job is all you need from props because class and direction through the spine wins premierships.

Look at what Melbourne get out of the likes of Ryles, Norrie, Lowe, Browich etc.
Look at Raiders with rep props Shillington, Leoroyd Lars and Brett White...

I'll take a classy spine over big name props any day even sacrificing maybe our best prop since Steve Roach.

People say this about Bennett, but forget he signed Lazarus off Canberra and it was only then that Brisbane took the next step. They also forget that later he had this guy called Webke and Tallis in the backrow.

I think this Bennett goes for no name forwards is a myth.