Mitchell Pearce

Mitchell Pearce is a retired player most recently playing for Newcastle Knights.

Mitchell Pearce (born 7 April 1989) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who co-captains the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League. A New South Wales State of Origin, City Origin, Prime Minister's XIII and NRL All Stars representative, he plays as a halfback. He previously played for the Sydney Roosters with whom he won the 2013 NRL Premiership. He is the son of former Balmain Tigers legend, New South Wales, Australian international and now current ARL commissioner Wayne Pearce.

Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Pearce played his junior football for the Asquith Magpies and North Ryde Hawks. Pearce attended and played rugby union for Barker College, before transferring to Marist College North Shore for his senior years, where he played league alongside his friend Kieran Foran. Pearce would later be signed by the Sydney Roosters. In December 2005, Pearce, who was then 16 years old, was at a charity golf function in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast when was attacked by a drunken Craig Gower, the Penrith Panthers captain. Gower allegedly chased Pearce around the resort with a glass bottle before vomiting on him; Gower was also accused of manhandling and groping Pearce's older sister Tatum Pearce.

In Round 2 of the 2007 NRL season, Pearce made his NRL debut for the Sydney Roosters against the North Queensland Cowboys, starting at halfback in the 43-6 loss at 1300SMILES Stadium. After three First Grade appearances for the Roosters, Pearce's contract was extended by the club to the end of the 2010 season. In Round 12 against the Newcastle Knights, Pearce scored his first NRL career try in the Roosters 22-18 loss at Central Coast Stadium.[10] In Round 14 against the Penrith Panthers, Pearce scored an 80-metre try in the final minute from a loose carry from Panthers halfback Craig Gower, the man who previously drunkenly attacked Pearce 2 years prior and got the last laugh by scoring the try of his mistake to win the match for the Roosters 24-20 at Penrith Stadium.[11] Later into the season, Pearce was ruled out for 6 weeks to due a back injury and later in Round 23 onwards where he played off the interchange bench in last 3 matches. Pearce finished his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 16 matches and scoring 2 tries for the Roosters in the 2007 NRL season.