Mitchell Pearce is forever “grateful” Catalans gave him an unexpected route out of his latest NRL controversy.
And the decorated Australian scrum-half, 32, is now striving to repay them with a maiden Super League title. He found himself at a career crossroads last autumn. Following a messy split from his fiancee, after a sexting scandal with a female Newcastle Knights colleague led to his wedding being cancelled, Pearce needed a change.
The New South Wales State of Origin star, stripped of the Newcastle captaincy after the revelations in 2020, was offered the chance to move to the south of France. And Pearce, replacing his former Origin team-mate James Maloney, has proved a hit with Les Dracs. Although last season’s League Leaders only finished fourth, they head into tonight’s elimination play-off against Leeds - which goes ahead despite the death of The Queen - firmly believing they can reach Old Trafford for a second year running.
Pearce won the 2013 NRL Grand Final for Sydney Roosters alongside Maloney and current Catalans assistant coach Sam Moa. He now has his eyes on repeating the feat in Super League after Dragons fell just short to St Helens in their Grand Final debut last year. The player, who made more than 300 NRL appearances, said: "At this point in my life, it’d mean everything.
“You play footy to win comps. It’s one week at a time now. Two wins and you make a Grand Final. That’s the goal. But this week the preparation’s on Leeds. We’ve a big task ahead. They’ll be a really tough challenge. It will take an 80 minute performance and that’s where the focus is.”
In-form Rhinos have won seven of their last eight games to make a late surge into the play-offs. Their only defeat was a 32-18 loss against Catalans in Perpignan last Monday. But they also won there on that run, remarkably coming from behind with 12 men to win 36-32 in golden point extra-time at Stade Gilbert Brutus.
Still, the experienced Pearce plans on ensuring that doesn’t happen again and fully understands what Super League success would mean for the fantaical Catalans people. He said: "I felt that straight away; it’s a proud rugby league area. I’ve loved every moment of being here. I’ve got great team-mates and it’s a great club. I’m really grateful I made the choice to come over.
“We’ve been through plenty of ups and downs: plenty of good footy, a couple of hurdles with injuries and some poor form at the back end. But we’re in the top four and ready to go. And I want to give back to the club and play my best. That’s what finals footy is all about: this is what you work all year for and the part that everyone remembers.”
