Tweet
MITCHELL Pearce has always wanted to know everything.
As a child, he was immersed in football tactics. For hours he would sit in dad's office at the Wests Tigers, and watch plays unfold on the video.
During certain passages, Wayne Pearce would rewind the tape and Mitchell would ask why he'd hit the button at that moment.
When Mitchell was 12, his dad was coaching NSW. That's when the Roosters halfback met his idol, Andrew Johns.
At the end of that series, Johns gave the kid his Origin socks and shorts. They became a treasured possession.
At 16, Mitchell announced to his parents he wanted to change schools, from Barker College to Marist Brothers in North Sydney. Mitchell felt Barker didn't suit his NRL dream.
While Barker was selecting him in the First XV rugby union team, Mitchell was determined to make it in rugby league.
Just months after his switch, he was captain of the Australian schoolboys side.
"When someone is that dedicated and wants it that bad you are going to make it. He wanted it that bad. Plus he's got the genes from his dad," Andrew Johns says.
By the time he'd hit his late teens, the kid was running around the field in first grade with another legend, Brad Fittler.
"He loves his footy. He trains hard. Once you've got that you end up with a little beaut," Fittler says.
Pearce turns 21 in two weeks and his achievements are hard to comprehend. He is in his fourth season of first grade and played for NSW in 2008. He's already racked up 67 top-grade games.
Just seven days ago, Ricky Stuart called for him to captain the Blues in this year's Origin series.
The Roosters cried foul and slapped a media ban on Pearce after he'd produced a man-of-the-match performance against the Wests Tigers. Yet in the club's own words, he is already a leader.
Despite the Roosters playing it down, bookies have him as a short-priced favourite to wear the Blues' No 7 jumper this year.
"I just think his development in the last two years has been astonishing," Johns continues. "Physically, this year he's only just grown into his body. Before he wasn't developed physically. This year he has developed into a different person - strong and fast.
"The big thing for Mitchell is just to keep his head on now. "He's realised this year what happens comes with some sacrifice and he's got to keep that up."
Wayne explains his son's drive for excellence this way: "He's forever asking people and looking for the better way to do things, that's just in his nature."
In that 2001 Origin camp, the aspiring halfback also met Matthew Johns, who would become a mentor for the teenager.
From the age of 18, Pearce travelled to a Collaroy park near Matthew's house to be "coached" by the former Test player. Hours and hours of kicking and questioning would take place. He'd quiz Johns relentlessly.
"Why was Terry Lamb such a great player? What did Sterlo have that made him so good? When you and Joey played, how did they defend against you?"
Those close to Pearce say he has quite possibly read every rugby league autobiography written such is his thirst for knowledge.
"With Mitchell, mate, everything is football, football, football," Matthew Johns says.
The former Test five-eighth was mildly stunned by Mitchell's talent during their first mentoring session in the Collaroy park.
"From the moment I saw him ... you know, you go 'wow', he had that certain thing about him," Matthew recalls. "Different halfbacks I did stuff with over the years [had different talents], but he really stood out.
"He's different to a lot of young blokes because he's come through with a strong rugby league pedigree.
"For Mitchell, football comes first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth. That's what it is. It's his absolute passion and it is his life.
"Halfback is a really difficult position to play.
"When you play in the halves, you are really taking responsibility for the whole side. If things aren't going well the coach taps you on the shoulder. They are under a fair bit of pressure."
But pressure doesn't seem to weigh down this kid.
After his sessions with Matthew Johns, young Mitchell would go home and practise on the tennis court at his home, at times in pouring rain.
"Mitchell's the sort of kid that works overtime," his dad says.
He's been watching hour upon hour of video tapes of his games since he was 15.
And he not only goes over his games, he goes over specifics of his opponent's game and his team's game as well.
Even now, on the way home from matches, he calls fellow Roosters playmakers Todd Carney and Braith Anasta, trying to work out what could have been done better, what play to try next time.
Matthew says Mitchell has inherited Wayne's hunger and spirit for the game.
"What he's got off his dad is that great competitive spirit," Matthew says. "Mitchell has a tough game, great skills and he has the determination. The thing with Mitchell is he really does deserve anything that is coming his way."
And you get the feeling it can't come soon enough.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1225846360462
As a child, he was immersed in football tactics. For hours he would sit in dad's office at the Wests Tigers, and watch plays unfold on the video.
During certain passages, Wayne Pearce would rewind the tape and Mitchell would ask why he'd hit the button at that moment.
When Mitchell was 12, his dad was coaching NSW. That's when the Roosters halfback met his idol, Andrew Johns.
At the end of that series, Johns gave the kid his Origin socks and shorts. They became a treasured possession.
At 16, Mitchell announced to his parents he wanted to change schools, from Barker College to Marist Brothers in North Sydney. Mitchell felt Barker didn't suit his NRL dream.
While Barker was selecting him in the First XV rugby union team, Mitchell was determined to make it in rugby league.
Just months after his switch, he was captain of the Australian schoolboys side.
"When someone is that dedicated and wants it that bad you are going to make it. He wanted it that bad. Plus he's got the genes from his dad," Andrew Johns says.
By the time he'd hit his late teens, the kid was running around the field in first grade with another legend, Brad Fittler.
"He loves his footy. He trains hard. Once you've got that you end up with a little beaut," Fittler says.
Pearce turns 21 in two weeks and his achievements are hard to comprehend. He is in his fourth season of first grade and played for NSW in 2008. He's already racked up 67 top-grade games.
Just seven days ago, Ricky Stuart called for him to captain the Blues in this year's Origin series.
The Roosters cried foul and slapped a media ban on Pearce after he'd produced a man-of-the-match performance against the Wests Tigers. Yet in the club's own words, he is already a leader.
Despite the Roosters playing it down, bookies have him as a short-priced favourite to wear the Blues' No 7 jumper this year.
"I just think his development in the last two years has been astonishing," Johns continues. "Physically, this year he's only just grown into his body. Before he wasn't developed physically. This year he has developed into a different person - strong and fast.
"The big thing for Mitchell is just to keep his head on now. "He's realised this year what happens comes with some sacrifice and he's got to keep that up."
Wayne explains his son's drive for excellence this way: "He's forever asking people and looking for the better way to do things, that's just in his nature."
In that 2001 Origin camp, the aspiring halfback also met Matthew Johns, who would become a mentor for the teenager.
From the age of 18, Pearce travelled to a Collaroy park near Matthew's house to be "coached" by the former Test player. Hours and hours of kicking and questioning would take place. He'd quiz Johns relentlessly.
"Why was Terry Lamb such a great player? What did Sterlo have that made him so good? When you and Joey played, how did they defend against you?"
Those close to Pearce say he has quite possibly read every rugby league autobiography written such is his thirst for knowledge.
"With Mitchell, mate, everything is football, football, football," Matthew Johns says.
The former Test five-eighth was mildly stunned by Mitchell's talent during their first mentoring session in the Collaroy park.
"From the moment I saw him ... you know, you go 'wow', he had that certain thing about him," Matthew recalls. "Different halfbacks I did stuff with over the years [had different talents], but he really stood out.
"He's different to a lot of young blokes because he's come through with a strong rugby league pedigree.
"For Mitchell, football comes first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth. That's what it is. It's his absolute passion and it is his life.
"Halfback is a really difficult position to play.
"When you play in the halves, you are really taking responsibility for the whole side. If things aren't going well the coach taps you on the shoulder. They are under a fair bit of pressure."
But pressure doesn't seem to weigh down this kid.
After his sessions with Matthew Johns, young Mitchell would go home and practise on the tennis court at his home, at times in pouring rain.
"Mitchell's the sort of kid that works overtime," his dad says.
He's been watching hour upon hour of video tapes of his games since he was 15.
And he not only goes over his games, he goes over specifics of his opponent's game and his team's game as well.
Even now, on the way home from matches, he calls fellow Roosters playmakers Todd Carney and Braith Anasta, trying to work out what could have been done better, what play to try next time.
Matthew says Mitchell has inherited Wayne's hunger and spirit for the game.
"What he's got off his dad is that great competitive spirit," Matthew says. "Mitchell has a tough game, great skills and he has the determination. The thing with Mitchell is he really does deserve anything that is coming his way."
And you get the feeling it can't come soon enough.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1225846360462
Comment