Mitchell Pearce has no regrets over his decision to withdraw from Origin II due to injury – but the veteran of 18 appearances for NSW admits he isn’t ‘super content’ with his Blues career.
The 30-year-old made his NSW debut as a teenager in 2008 and failed to win an Origin series in seven attempts before he was left out of new coach Brad Fittler’s triumphant squad in 2018.
Pearce was the fall guy for many of the Blues' failures during more than a decade of Queensland dominance.
In an interview on Fox Sports’ The Late Show With Matty Johns on Sunday night, Pearce opened up on his Origin regrets when asked if agreeing to make his debut as a 19-year-old was a mistake.
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“It’s hard to say, do I have regrets about my percentage of winning? Yeah for sure,” Pearce told The Late Show With Matty Johns.
“But I put that on myself, I needed to deliver at times I haven’t there.
“I’m my own harshest critic but in hindsight (making my Origin debut) a bit later might have taken a bit of the external pressure off … going in there young and losing does add external pressure but it is what it is.”
Asked if the criticism he copped after Origin losses over the years was unfair, Pearce replied: “Sometimes it was but there were games where I didn’t deliver.
“Like I just said I’m my own harshest critic, if I don’t play well for the Knights I’m the first one to put my hand up for my team-mates.
“But there were games there, I’m not happy or super content with the way I’ve played in State of Origin.
“… You’ve got to win and I haven’t at times. My record hasn’t been great there … and as much as it hurts at the time when you do cop that criticism you’ve got to put your hand up.”
Pearce was set to be named in Brad Fittler’s squad for Game 2 before he withdrew with a hip injury.
The Newcastle Knights captain, who hasn’t played for the Blues since 2017, appears an outside chance to play in the July 10 series decider at ANZ Stadium as injured half-back Nathan Cleary (ankle) races the clock.
It appears Cleary will be named in an extended squad on Monday night but could still be ruled out if he is unable to train by Thursday.
If Cleary is a late scratching, Blues selectors could opt to recall Pearce but appear more likely to stick with Wade Graham and James Maloney, who formed a potent combination in the second half of the 38-6 victory in Perth.
Pearce declared he would be ‘over the moon’ if he is picked for the series decider but doesn’t know which way Fittler and the Blues selectors are leaning.
