Footy bad boy Mitchell Pearce set to return to the Roosters in bombshell move seven years after he was stripped of the club captaincy following infamous drunken incident with a dog
- Once in hot water with a dog, long-serving Rooster may return
- Can Pearce at 34 be a star again
- Likely to knock back role as Luke Brooks replacement
Footy bad boy Mitchell Pearce is being touted as a ‘new’ recruit for the embattled Sydney Roosters – seven years after his infamous drunken incident with a dog.
Pearce left the Roosters when they brought in Australian halfback Cooper Cronk, believing Pearce didn’t have the capacity or ability to lead the Roosters to big wins.
So he went to Newcastle for a few seasons before leaving for Catalans in France after they offered him a contract – but he may be set for a bombshell return.
Pearce has been linked to the erratic Wests Tigers, home of his famous father Wayne, as a replacement for $1million star Luke Brooks, who will be departing the Tigers’ den at the end of 2023.
However it seems Pearce has knocked that back – with a move to the Roosters now looking more likely.
Embattled NRL star Mitchell Pearce (pictured) is looking likely to return to the Aussie game – as a Rooster again
He left in 2017 in the wake of the infamous scandal that involved him simulating a sex act with a dog
NRL 360 on FOX reported that as early as March this season, the Tigers were preparing a $1.5m two-year deal to lure Pearce back.
So the news that he is considering an NRL return to the Sydney Roosters strongly suggests it means plenty of dollars are being dangled in front of him.
He has already played 309 games in the NRL and the Daily Telegraph says the reports that he is coming back and playing with the Roosters are very strong.
Where that leaves young Sam Walker and utility star Connor Watson is anyone’s guess.
A return is warranted as the Roosters’ halves showed last night in the thrashing by Penrith, they simply are just not up to it.
Luke Keary tried hard and made inroads but a general is desperately needed in the middle to direct them all around.
When Pearce (with the ball) played for the Roosters he was co-captain and an attacking force but the management sensationally booted him from the side after various off-field incidents
Pearce would probably be a good inclusion coming off the interchange for them.
The embattled former Rooster has played 19 times for the NSW Blues at Origin level.
In January of 2016, Pearce, then co-captain of the Roosters was sensationally stripped of the captaincy when video emerged of him simulating a sex act with a dog.
The NSW State of Origin star was handed an eight-match ban and fined $125,000 – and was the start of his inglorious slide out of the NRL.
Pearce’s drunken stupor at that Australia Day party drew a heavy fine, as well as the end of his captaincy — and after moving to Newcastle was again in the headlines when his fiance called of their engagement after she caught him ‘sexting’ a Knights staffer.
But it is in the rearview mirror for Pearce, who says he has given up alcohol as a move back to the NRL awaits.
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