Mitchell Pearce is reportedly weighing up a shock return to the NRL, with the veteran playmaker linked with a potential move to his former club.
The 34-year-old is currently plying his trade for Super League club Catalans, moving over to the south of France last year after four years at Newcastle.
Pearce has over 300 games of first grade experience and featured 19 times for NSW throughout his career, making him one of the most established and experienced No.7s in the game today.
But when Pearce moved away from Australia at the beginning of 2022, nobody could have expected the second-generation star to ever return given his age and the tough end to his tenure in the NRL.
MORE: Luke Brooks set to leave Wests Tigers at end of 2023
According to a report from The Daily Telegraph, Pearce could be back at the Sydney Roosters next year as a back-up playmaker to Luke Keary and Sam Walker, potentially filling in as a bench utility.
The move has already raised some eyebrows across the game, with the likes of Phil Gould and Wade Graham both questioning why Pearce would want to come back to Bondi.
Trent Robinson shuts down Mitchell Pearce rumours
While the rumblings across rugby league circles haven't stopped in recent weeks, Roosters coach Trent Robinson is adamant there is no truth to the potential of a Pearce return.
Speaking to the media ahead of the side's Round 16, Robinson admitted there was a chance for the premiership-winning playmaker to come back into the fold in another role once his career finishes.
“There’s no truth to that," he said.
"He’s a lifelong Rooster and we’re obviously supporting him from afar.
"He’ll be back at the Roosters doing something at some point… we are looking forward to that when he’s done at Catalans."
Close friend weighs in on potential Mitchell Pearce return
Speaking on the latest edition of 100% Footy, Cronulla veteran Graham urged his close mate to stay put in France, but admitted there could be some truth to the rumours.
“Where there is smoke, there is fire and there has certainly been some chat about it," he said.
"We spoke about Luke Brooks and a change of scenery and getting out of the NRL bubble, and he has dedicated such a long period of his life to it. I feel like Mitch was in the same sort of boat at the back-end of his career over here.
"He went over to France and seems to be enjoying his life… Catalans are playing well, at the top of the table and an opportunity to have some success. As a friend of Mitchell’s, he seems to be happy and enjoying his life.
"I had a conversation with him last year when I was off-contract, because I publicly said I’m keen to go over to France at some stage because of my partner’s French background.
"He was loving life, he was telling me how much he enjoyed the club and living over there and the experience, being out of the football bubble. It was a shock to me when it came out that he wants to [come back]."
Pearce's side sitting at the top of the Super League ladder would likely put a stop to any potential mid-season switch, but the rumblings surrounding a 2024 contract at the Roosters aren't going away.
Phil Gould questions Roosters push for Mitchell Pearce return
One man who has seen the development and entire career of Pearce is Gould, who admitted the reports surprised him and doesn't believe it would be the right move for either party.
“I know at the end of last season and coming into 2023, he had a couple of opportunities to come back to the NRL," Gould said.
"It was for one year, come back to the NRL and finish your career off – that didn’t appeal to him at all. Here we are 12 months later and they are saying he is gonna come back next year? I would be stunned.
"I’m stunned that the Roosters think that’s the solution to their issues. That’s stunned me even more that they think Mitchell Pearce at this age, is a solution to their issues.
"I've got not idea why they want him to come back – they got rid of him years ago, sent him packing to Newcastle… I just don’t get what the Roosters see in that decision.
"To me, Sam Walker is their future and it’s been clear to me since they’ve been out, they’ve lost all their ad-lib and lost all their spark. It’s gone back into playing very structured and very slow – it’s very predictable."
