Skipper’s hard call after text scandal

NEWCASTLE halfback Mitchell Pearce has quit as club captain in the wake of a scandal over his flirty text messages

a young female club employee.

The 31-year-old will front the media this morning to read a statement confirming he has stood down from his role as Knights skipper.

Pearce (pictured) will insist it is his own decision and not a directive from the club.

Coach Adam O’Brien will be alongside Pearce to answer questions about the Knights’ future leadership plans.

Pearce has told club officials he is stepping away from the captaincy to try to salvage his r e l a t i o n s h i p with his fiancee Kristin Scott.

Their Byron Bay wedding, with a guest list of 150, was called off on Christmas Eve after it was revealed Pearce had exchanged racy text messages with the club employee.

The guests, including many of the NRL’s biggest names, were told Sydney’s coronavirus outbreak was the reason behind the cancellation.

“Mitchell Pearce will step down as captain of the Newcastle Knights, effective immediately,” the club said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Earlier this week, Pearce met with head coach Adam O’Brien, CEO Philip Gardner and general manager of football Danny Buderus, to address recent events and to apologise for the distraction and inconvenience they have caused during the Christmas leave period.

“Immediately following this meeting, Pearce met with his teammates and football department staff, to advise the group of his decision to relinquish the captaincy.”

“The club is fully supportive of his decision.”