Rooster’s holiday turns into agonising decision over future
UNDER- PRESSURE Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce will decide whether to chuck in 11 years at the club during a holiday on idyllic Waikiki Beach.
Pearce will leave today for a three- week trip that includes visits to Hawaii and New York.
He will mull over a heartbreaking dilemma – to stay or quit the club he loves. Pearce still has two years remaining on his deal and held a “clearthe- air” meeting yesterday with Roosters coach Trent Robinson.
News Corp understands the meeting – while important for an emotional Pearce – was cordial and calm.
Pearce is said to have “got a few things off his chest”.
No doubt Pearce is still hurt and angry at the shock arrival of Cooper Cronk to a team he has led, guided and nurtured since 2007.
Cronk officially signed a two- year, $ 2 million deal yesterday with the Roosters.
Pearce will head overseas to the golden sands of Waikiki and the hustle and bustle of New York to weigh up his future. It is a pre- planned trip with his partner Zoe Grant.
Some friends want Pearce to stay and be a respected oneclub player. Pearce joined the Roosters at 17.
Others say he should walk away given his status at the club has been diminished.
Friends were relieved Pearce didn’t make a rash decision yesterday when talking with Robinson.
Robinson was not responding to media requests last night.
In yesterday’s The Daily Telegraph, Robinson said: “We definitely want ‘ Pearcey’ to be a Rooster now and into our future. His place in our team has never been questioned.”
While often maligned, Pearce has been a loyal Rooster and helped the club to their 2013 premiership victory.
If Pearce leaves, Manly, Cronulla and Newcastle have held internal discussions about targeting the NSW Origin halfback.
Robinson was at Roosters HQ early yesterday but the meeting with Pearce – which started at 11am – was at the coach’s eastern suburbs home.
To avoid waiting media, a Roosters staff member drove the coach’s car away from the club’s offices and handed the keys to Robinson about 100m away. He took off quickly. State of