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Mentor: Roosters halfback needs a fresh start under a top NRL coach. Picture: Gregg Porteous. Source: The Daily Telegraph
MITCHELL Pearce's career at the Roosters is at the crossroads.
He can't publicly confirm what I'm writing but rest assured it's true - he's not happy at the club.
At 23, Pearce is at a stage of his career where he wants and needs to be under a great footy coach.
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He originally joined the Roosters to get an opportunity to learn his trade under Ricky Stuart.
Instead he got Chris Anderson, Brad Fittler and now Brian Smith.
I wrote recently that Pearce was a very good club footballer but not quite an Origin player.
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Stuart can't teach him to be a great halfback in the six weeks of an Origin campaign.
He needs mentoring week in, week out. He needs someone like a Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy, Des Hasler or Stuart.
That's the only way his game will go to the next level and what he's potentially capable of achieving.
Most of the great halves have had good coaching. Peter Sterling had Jack Gibson. Steve Mortimer had Ted Glossop and later Warren Ryan.
Stuart himself had Tim Sheens. Alfie Langer had Wayne Bennett. Pearce's Origin opposite number Cooper Cronk has Bellamy.
I have no doubt Pearce could be the long-term answer for NSW at No7.
But his game needs refinement and sophistication. He needs to become a more complete football player.
I'm being told Pearce's manager is about to have talks with the Roosters management about the future direction of the club.
If Smith is staying, I'm hearing Pearce will request a release.
He is a very decent young man who understands he can't be telling a club and his employers what to do.
But at the same time wants to improve himself as a football player.
Wherever he plays next, I can guarantee he will not be going to the highest bidder.
This isn't about money.
It's about him becoming another Cronk or even Thurston
http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport...-1226426594374
MITCHELL Pearce's career at the Roosters is at the crossroads.
He can't publicly confirm what I'm writing but rest assured it's true - he's not happy at the club.
At 23, Pearce is at a stage of his career where he wants and needs to be under a great footy coach.
BLOG LIVE WITH BUZZ AT 1PM
He originally joined the Roosters to get an opportunity to learn his trade under Ricky Stuart.
Instead he got Chris Anderson, Brad Fittler and now Brian Smith.
I wrote recently that Pearce was a very good club footballer but not quite an Origin player.
Advertisement
Stuart can't teach him to be a great halfback in the six weeks of an Origin campaign.
He needs mentoring week in, week out. He needs someone like a Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy, Des Hasler or Stuart.
That's the only way his game will go to the next level and what he's potentially capable of achieving.
Most of the great halves have had good coaching. Peter Sterling had Jack Gibson. Steve Mortimer had Ted Glossop and later Warren Ryan.
Stuart himself had Tim Sheens. Alfie Langer had Wayne Bennett. Pearce's Origin opposite number Cooper Cronk has Bellamy.
I have no doubt Pearce could be the long-term answer for NSW at No7.
But his game needs refinement and sophistication. He needs to become a more complete football player.
I'm being told Pearce's manager is about to have talks with the Roosters management about the future direction of the club.
If Smith is staying, I'm hearing Pearce will request a release.
He is a very decent young man who understands he can't be telling a club and his employers what to do.
But at the same time wants to improve himself as a football player.
Wherever he plays next, I can guarantee he will not be going to the highest bidder.
This isn't about money.
It's about him becoming another Cronk or even Thurston
http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport...-1226426594374
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