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Taken from http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...018866,00.html
Hopefully he's learnt what can happen and doesn't want to be put into a situation where he's in the spotlight.....
Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce aiming to cut party-boy behaviour
By Steve Gee
July 15, 2009 .Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce has vowed to rein in his party-boy behaviour after conceding that he risked further tarnishing his image after being linked to a string of unsavoury incidents.
But the 20-year-old, whose famous father, Wayne, was a non-drinker, says giving up alcohol is not the answer.
"I'm not going to put a drinking ban on myself and none of the boys are, but it's about being a bit smarter when you go out," Pearce said.
"Obviously I've got to keep my head a bit cleaner - the whole NRL does.
"I don't think I'm a bad boy. I don't go out to cause trouble, but I do love a good time and you've got to manage it.
"You have to be aware -- one slip up and you could not only hurt your reputation, but you lose your sponsors and fans and members which help the club."
Speaking for the first time since the Roosters closed ranks over the Nate Myles defecation incident, the man viewed as a future NSW Origin captain said a heart-to-heart with CEO Steve Noyce left him convinced he had to change.
Since breaking into the NRL in 2007, the young halfback, who has been earmarked as a future Roosters and NSW leader, has received regular mentions in gossip columns for his love of a good time.
Pearce was with teammates Jake Friend and Sandor Earl at the Tank nightclub three weeks ago when the pair were embroiled in a fight in which the niece of ABC league commentator, David Morrow, was punched in the face.
He was also with Roosters teammates drinking until the early hours of the morning on the Central Coast when Myles locked himself out of his hotel room at Terrigal and defecated in the hallway.
Although absolved of any blame in either incident, Pearce admits the link was a concern for himself and the club.
"I've been guilty by association, but it's still me being there and I made a mistake by going to have a beer after I had a bit of trouble the week before," he said.
"I've put my hand up and accepted that. It wasn't the right thing to do from a leadership point of view."
Pearce has also discussed the issue with his legendary father, whose squeaky clean image made him the face of the code in the 1980s.
"He was certainly a clean skin, but he's never been one to judge," said Pearce, whose surname is tattooed on his bicep.
"Obviously he watches me as everyone else does. He offers support and he says the same thing: 'you've got to keep your head clean'."
Pearce, who broke into the NRL as an 18-year-old, said he was determined to help repair the Roosters' image.
"The club has copped a fair bit of criticism, which I suppose is deserving of some of the behaviour.
"But this is a great club and it's up to us to earn back people's respect."
By Steve Gee
July 15, 2009 .Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce has vowed to rein in his party-boy behaviour after conceding that he risked further tarnishing his image after being linked to a string of unsavoury incidents.
But the 20-year-old, whose famous father, Wayne, was a non-drinker, says giving up alcohol is not the answer.
"I'm not going to put a drinking ban on myself and none of the boys are, but it's about being a bit smarter when you go out," Pearce said.
"Obviously I've got to keep my head a bit cleaner - the whole NRL does.
"I don't think I'm a bad boy. I don't go out to cause trouble, but I do love a good time and you've got to manage it.
"You have to be aware -- one slip up and you could not only hurt your reputation, but you lose your sponsors and fans and members which help the club."
Speaking for the first time since the Roosters closed ranks over the Nate Myles defecation incident, the man viewed as a future NSW Origin captain said a heart-to-heart with CEO Steve Noyce left him convinced he had to change.
Since breaking into the NRL in 2007, the young halfback, who has been earmarked as a future Roosters and NSW leader, has received regular mentions in gossip columns for his love of a good time.
Pearce was with teammates Jake Friend and Sandor Earl at the Tank nightclub three weeks ago when the pair were embroiled in a fight in which the niece of ABC league commentator, David Morrow, was punched in the face.
He was also with Roosters teammates drinking until the early hours of the morning on the Central Coast when Myles locked himself out of his hotel room at Terrigal and defecated in the hallway.
Although absolved of any blame in either incident, Pearce admits the link was a concern for himself and the club.
"I've been guilty by association, but it's still me being there and I made a mistake by going to have a beer after I had a bit of trouble the week before," he said.
"I've put my hand up and accepted that. It wasn't the right thing to do from a leadership point of view."
Pearce has also discussed the issue with his legendary father, whose squeaky clean image made him the face of the code in the 1980s.
"He was certainly a clean skin, but he's never been one to judge," said Pearce, whose surname is tattooed on his bicep.
"Obviously he watches me as everyone else does. He offers support and he says the same thing: 'you've got to keep your head clean'."
Pearce, who broke into the NRL as an 18-year-old, said he was determined to help repair the Roosters' image.
"The club has copped a fair bit of criticism, which I suppose is deserving of some of the behaviour.
"But this is a great club and it's up to us to earn back people's respect."
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