The former Blues number seven set up two of the Chooks' six tries and scored another in a dominant display.
More: Tupou: Try or No Try? | Chris Lawrence try disallowed
The chorus of support for Pearce, who lost his Origin spot before last year's series, had already been growing loud buyt Friday's performance will only add to speculation Laurie Daley will pick him for Game 1.
Pearce's performance sets up a mouth-watering clash with Hodkinson and the Bulldogs next Friday night in what shapes as a genuine Origin audition.
Is this the bloke to defend NSW's Origin crown?
@WWOS9 well done Pearce! #NRL #NRLRoostersTigers #WWOS
— chlo (@schibecbec) May 8, 2015
Can any Mitchell Pearce haters name a more in form halfback eligible for NSW?
— gary r (@gary67r) May 8, 2015
Welcome back to Origin Pearce.
— Davo Waters (@STORMWATERS1) May 8, 2015
As he always has though, Pearce divides opinion. There were even some gibberers saying Pearce’s Man of the Match award was a Channel 9 plot to get him back in a blue jersey. Love a good conspiracy theory.
channel nine are trying pretty hard to get pearce back into origin aren't they
— 2/22 (@flabberdacks) May 8, 2015
Are @channel9 trying to pick the fucking origin halves for the team? Maloney and then Pearce MOM back to back weeks and neither deserved it
— The Starting Block (@thestartingbloc) May 8, 2015
Add Pearce to the large list of players the Tigers have made to look like immortals.
— The Spray (@thespray1) May 8, 2015
Looks like we just played that overrated flop Pearce into a SOO spot
— ShireTiger (@ShireTiger) May 8, 2015
Mitchell Pearce wins MoM coming into origin. Queenslanders everywhere rub their hands in glee #origin #surethings #NRLRoostersTigers
— mcwebby (@talkingdog19) May 8, 2015
Pearce plays well for the Roosters because he's a good club player. He has proven many times over he can't handle the step up to Origin
— Nick Campton (@campo37) May 8, 2015
Omg..how does Pearce get MOTM. It's a gee up. #NRLRoostersTigers
— gmonty (@gmnty) May 8, 2015
@WWOS9 That's the last straw, you guys are idiots. Mitch Aubusson was MOTM It's as plain as Sterlo's baldy head you want Pearce in origin.
— Ron (@rafr_10) May 8, 2015
