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I DON’T know what was going on in Mitchell Pearce’s life last year and I don’t know what was going on behind closed doors at the Sydney Roosters.
What I do know is I like what I see in the countdown to 2013.
Mitchell looks happy and he looks fit. It’s a real good sign for NSW.
It seems as though Mitchell has sorted some things out that probably needed sorting out.
Now his focus is back on being a footballer.
He is also showing signs that he wants to become a leader at the Roosters.
When that happens, he will only be better for us at Origin time.
This is leading to the point I want to make first up this year, before the debate even gets going.
Next Thursday night the Roosters take on the Rabbitohs in the NRL season opener and Mitchell Pearce goes head-to-head with Adam Reynolds, the man most consider his main rival for the NSW halfback spot.
Let me tell you, I’m like the rest of the fans out there, I can’t wait for Thursday.
It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this much anticipation coming into a new rugby league season.
You have to go all the way back to the early 1990s, when the game was absolutely flying, to remember this much excitement.
And being the NSW State of Origin coach gives me even more reason to look forward to the year ahead, and the opportunities ahead of us.
Since taking over as Blues coach, probably the question I get asked most is what am I thinking about the halves - and is Mitchell the bloke who can win us an Origin series?
I love the fact everyone has an opinion, but this is mine: If I had to pick my team tomorrow Mitchell would be in the side, I want him as my halfback.
In no way is this meant to be a slight on Adam Reynolds and his potential because I think he has a huge future.
Adam had a wonderful debut season last year and at some stage is going to get his opportunity, but I believe what he needs to focus on right now is improving on what he did last year for the Rabbitohs.
He has a terrific club coach in Michael Maguire and, like I said, he has all the potential, now he just
needs time.
I had a chance to spend a bit of time with him back in January at the Emerging Blues camp we had in Sydney and I was really impressed with the way he handled himself and his knowledge of the game.
But the last thing I want to do ahead of the opening round of the season is burden him with unfair pressure and expectation; he just doesn’t need it from me.
As for Mitchell, I think he is ready to take the next step in his career and become a real leader, which is also part of the job description if you want to be the playmaker of an Origin team. You don’t want to always try to be the star, but you do have to want to take control of any situation.
Origin is played at such a breakneck speed and with such intensity that players are often playing under extreme fatigue and this is when a team can lose its way.
So this is where the half has to stand up.
It’s a big responsibility and communication skills are vital.
You have to be able to talk your team through tough times, and having that ability to move them around the field is as important as any individual aspect of your game.
Last year, for whatever reason, Mitchell just didn’t seem to be the same player I had seen over previous seasons and I think his form reflected that.
For NSW to beat Queensland this year we are going to have to play better as a team, which again goes back to the responsibilities of the halves.
And to play well you have to prepare well.
Not just for Origin, but for every game, every week, every training session.
This is what guys like Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk do so well, they are consistent.
What they do at Origin time reflects what they do for their clubs every week.
They are leaders on the field and at training - so when they get to Origin and the pressure is applied, they are prepared.
When they smell the opposition fatiguing, they strike.
In a matter of minutes they can put 12 points on you, because you lapsed and they didn’t.
And so much of it comes down to individual preparation.
Overall, I don’t plan on making too many changes from what we have done over last couple of years.
Obviously suspensions, injuries, and complete loss of form can dictate selections.
I remember back to after that third game last year and almost as soon as the players walked off the field everyone was debating what changes NSW needed to make next year.
We can’t keep going back to square one, we have to move forward, and I believe Mitchell Pearce is the way forward.
We have invested a lot of time him.
He is 23 years of age and he has played nine Origin games. This will be his seventh season of NRL.
I believe he is ready to take the next step in his career.
I can’t wait for Thursday night.
I DON’T know what was going on in Mitchell Pearce’s life last year and I don’t know what was going on behind closed doors at the Sydney Roosters.
What I do know is I like what I see in the countdown to 2013.
Mitchell looks happy and he looks fit. It’s a real good sign for NSW.
It seems as though Mitchell has sorted some things out that probably needed sorting out.
Now his focus is back on being a footballer.
He is also showing signs that he wants to become a leader at the Roosters.
When that happens, he will only be better for us at Origin time.
This is leading to the point I want to make first up this year, before the debate even gets going.
Next Thursday night the Roosters take on the Rabbitohs in the NRL season opener and Mitchell Pearce goes head-to-head with Adam Reynolds, the man most consider his main rival for the NSW halfback spot.
Let me tell you, I’m like the rest of the fans out there, I can’t wait for Thursday.
It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this much anticipation coming into a new rugby league season.
You have to go all the way back to the early 1990s, when the game was absolutely flying, to remember this much excitement.
And being the NSW State of Origin coach gives me even more reason to look forward to the year ahead, and the opportunities ahead of us.
Since taking over as Blues coach, probably the question I get asked most is what am I thinking about the halves - and is Mitchell the bloke who can win us an Origin series?
I love the fact everyone has an opinion, but this is mine: If I had to pick my team tomorrow Mitchell would be in the side, I want him as my halfback.
In no way is this meant to be a slight on Adam Reynolds and his potential because I think he has a huge future.
Adam had a wonderful debut season last year and at some stage is going to get his opportunity, but I believe what he needs to focus on right now is improving on what he did last year for the Rabbitohs.
He has a terrific club coach in Michael Maguire and, like I said, he has all the potential, now he just
needs time.
I had a chance to spend a bit of time with him back in January at the Emerging Blues camp we had in Sydney and I was really impressed with the way he handled himself and his knowledge of the game.
But the last thing I want to do ahead of the opening round of the season is burden him with unfair pressure and expectation; he just doesn’t need it from me.
As for Mitchell, I think he is ready to take the next step in his career and become a real leader, which is also part of the job description if you want to be the playmaker of an Origin team. You don’t want to always try to be the star, but you do have to want to take control of any situation.
Origin is played at such a breakneck speed and with such intensity that players are often playing under extreme fatigue and this is when a team can lose its way.
So this is where the half has to stand up.
It’s a big responsibility and communication skills are vital.
You have to be able to talk your team through tough times, and having that ability to move them around the field is as important as any individual aspect of your game.
Last year, for whatever reason, Mitchell just didn’t seem to be the same player I had seen over previous seasons and I think his form reflected that.
For NSW to beat Queensland this year we are going to have to play better as a team, which again goes back to the responsibilities of the halves.
And to play well you have to prepare well.
Not just for Origin, but for every game, every week, every training session.
This is what guys like Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk do so well, they are consistent.
What they do at Origin time reflects what they do for their clubs every week.
They are leaders on the field and at training - so when they get to Origin and the pressure is applied, they are prepared.
When they smell the opposition fatiguing, they strike.
In a matter of minutes they can put 12 points on you, because you lapsed and they didn’t.
And so much of it comes down to individual preparation.
Overall, I don’t plan on making too many changes from what we have done over last couple of years.
Obviously suspensions, injuries, and complete loss of form can dictate selections.
I remember back to after that third game last year and almost as soon as the players walked off the field everyone was debating what changes NSW needed to make next year.
We can’t keep going back to square one, we have to move forward, and I believe Mitchell Pearce is the way forward.
We have invested a lot of time him.
He is 23 years of age and he has played nine Origin games. This will be his seventh season of NRL.
I believe he is ready to take the next step in his career.
I can’t wait for Thursday night.
. A Roosters legend
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