Don’t pin it on Pearce, says coach

SYDNEY Roosters coach Trent Robinson has backed Mitchell Pearce to bounce back from another State of Origin failure and lead his NRL club to the finals.

Pearce will return to action in the Roosters’ NRL clash with Newcastle tonight, 10 days after suffering his seventh Origin series defeat.

“It really hurts last week for a coach to see the way (Origin III) went and knowing how it can affect somebody. And you feel sorry for them, a lot of us do,” Robinson said.

“But he’s also, he’s got a task with us. He’s played very well this year, he’s in good form, and now it’s his time to get back in and lead our team around.”

Robinson hit back at critics who blamed the NSW halfback for the defeat, saying it wasn’t only his fault the Blues were unable to close out the series. He said it was too easy to pin the loss on Pearce.