Mitchell Pearce and Origin

[cookies]

There is a headline in the Telegraph that suggests that Pearce will be stood down from Roosters games if he refuses to play for the Blues. I don't know the full story (am not a subscriber) but since when are players compelled to make themselves available? Didn't Jamie Lyons elect to decline rep honours?

I think Laurie will do the right thing & won't select him so doubt it will be a problem...

[Johnny Tobin]

There is a headline in the Telegraph that suggests that Pearce will be stood down from Roosters games if he refuses to play for the Blues. I don't know the full story (am not a subscriber) but since when are players compelled to make themselves available? Didn't Jamie Lyons elect to decline rep honours?

Didn't happen to Jamie Lyon.

[Team Evil]

The DT article for those that can't see it. MITCHELL Pearce runs the risk of being stood down from club football at the Roosters if he makes himself unavailable for NSW Blues selection this year.
The NSW side will be chosen on May 23 for the opening game of the series against the Maroons at ANZ Stadium on June 1, giving coach Laurie Daley two Roosters games against the Titans and Bulldogs to judge Pearce’s form.
Under NRL rules, a player who withdraws from a representative team or makes himself unavailable for selection cannot play for his club during the period he would have with the rep side.
It’s part of the official NRL player contract.
It leaves Blues coach Laurie Daley in the difficult position of either excusing him from selection or picking him because he is the best half-back available.
“All I’m concerned about at the moment is Mitchell’s welfare and wellbeing,” Daley said.

“I hope he’s feeling well and I hope he keeps playing good footy for the Roosters.
“I have not spoken to Mitchell yet because he’s just back at the Roosters and wants to concentrate on his club commitments. We’ll obviously chat closer to when the team is chosen.”

Pearce’s position is an interesting test for the representative football rules that only allows players to be granted exemptions because of long service.

A number of players over the years have continued in NRL after retiring from rep footy.
Pearce is not yet in that age bracket.
Yet he has an obvious case in that he is still under rehabilitation for alcohol abuse and could get a medical certificate or clearance from having to go into camp.
Still it would raise eyebrows around the NRL ranks if he was unavailable for the Blues but continued to carve up opponents, who have given up their stars for Origin teams.
Pearce has considered making himself unavailable for the Blues because he feels he owes it to his Roosters team mates after being suspended for eight weeks.
Just two weeks before the first team is named, Daley has to decide between Pearce, the incumbent Trent Hodkinson or South Sydney’s Adam Reynolds to play at half-back.
Both Hodkinson and Reynolds have performed poorly in recent weeks for their struggling clubs teams.

[Team Evil]

Why would Pearce want to play for NSW? He has been blamed for every loss for the last decade.
That's why Lyon stopped playing as well as he copped so much criticism.
F*&^K NSW as long as he plays well for us.

[Guest]

Has anybody ever been stopped from playing for the club team after withdrawing from the City vs Country match?

[milanja]

Jamie lyon is the only player i know of who refuses to play rep footy, can't remember him ever being stood down from club footy.

[milanja]

Has anybody ever been stopped from playing for the club team after withdrawing from the City vs Country match?

What's the city- country match?

[Johnny.]

Will be very happy to have Pearce in our seven jersey for the rest if the year.

According to the Sports guys on 2gb, it's going to be this.

6. Hayne
7. Hastings

Make of that what you will.

[mightyrooster]

According to the Sports guys on 2gb, it's going to be this.

6. Hayne
7. Hastings

Make of that what you will.

Which talking head said that and where do they expect Pearce to be?

[stephenj]

of course when he goes off injured in the last 5 mins next match hje can limp a bit and fail the test iff selected?

[roorooman]

According to the Sports guys on 2gb, it's going to be this.

6. Hayne
7. Hastings

Make of that what you will.

What a load of crap - where will Pearce be, paid $700k to be playing in NSW cup. I doubt it.

Hayne fullback, Mitchell centre
Or
Hayne at 6 and Hastings on the bench to cover friend.

Pearce is and will be a rooster for life. He ain't going no where.

[stephenj]

hell fail the soo medical thgen play off the bench for his club.

[stephenj]

how can the nrl expect him to play for them after they ousted him for 8 rounds and fined him mega dollars for nothing illegal!

[Guest]

It would be very reasonable to think Mitchel Pearce may be quite fragile at the moment. Whether that is his own fault or not is no longer relevant. If the guy doesn't feel up to playing SOO then I say leave him be. He simply does not need the pressure or the inevitable backlash when NSW lose. He has been whipped enough this year.

[Guest]

According to the Sports guys on 2gb, it's going to be this.

6. Hayne
7. Hastings

Make of that what you will.

Well if anyone would know, it would be the guys on 2GB