Mitchell Pearce believes Catalans’ off-field stability can see more from him
MITCHELL Pearce is ready to make a noise on the pitch while lapping up the quiet life off it – after making waves with dramas in Australia.
Describing himself as ‘newly single,’ Catalans Dragons’ new star half-back split from fiancée Kristin Scott after a sexting scandal days before their scheduled 2020 wedding, one which cost him the captaincy at NRL side Newcastle Knights.
In 2014, he was fined more than £10,000 and banned for one game by Sydney Roosters after being spoken to by police in a Sydney nightclub after a woman complained about his approach.
Most infamously, in 2016 he was banned for eight weeks and fined £65,000 after a video emerged of him drunkenly simulating a sex act with a dog at a party.
But now he is in the south of France, Pearce is ready to embrace off-field stability by showing on-field brilliance as the Dragons look to go one better than losing last year’s Grand Final.
He said: “I agree with the theory of stability bringing more out of me as a player.
“In Australia, it does become draining. There’s a fair bit of looking for things off the field going on. The less attention there is, the better. It may be the same here but I don’t watch French TV!
“I’ve already noticed the pace is off a little bit compared to back home. In Sydney and Newcastle, life as a player is full on. I did the NRL thing for 15 years.
“Here, it’s a really relaxed place with a good balance and you can see how proud it is about rugby league.
“And while the target is still the same, to win a trophy for Catalans, a change and new environment is stimulating.”
Pearce, son of Australian rugby league great Wayne, is currently living with fellow new arrival Dylan Napa – and siestas are taking some getting used to.
He also told how the legendary Aussie half-back he is replacing, James Maloney, played a part in his switch to Steve McNamara’s side.
The 32-year-old added: “I spoke to Jimmy a lot and I trust his opinion and he was really helpful. Steve was talking to me a lot too.
“But siestas in the afternoon, when everything shuts up, are new for me. So I need to get my bearings a bit over where to get a feed then. You have to prepare your days a bit more!”