How Nathan Brown Persuaded Mitchell Pearce To Join The Knights

"He can own the team"


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Newcastle Knights coach Nathan Brown has revealed what got Mitchell Pearce over the line to sign a lucrative deal with the Knights. 

Brown told The Newcastle Herald, the conversation with Pearce centred around something Manly or Cronulla couldn't offer the incumbent NSW halfback, and it had nothing to do with money. 

"I just told him he can play the style of footy he wants with us. He can own the team," Brown said.

"At the other clubs (Manly and Cronulla), they have some influential playmakers and his role there would diminish. I’m sure that played a part.

"He just fits the philosophy of the way I want the team to play and he’ll be able to play his preferred style here."

Although, enticing Pearce to make the move to the Hunter was difficult according to Brown, who also revealed the reservations Pearce had about the Knights. 

"He’s an honest bloke Mitch and said straight up at the meeting he had concerns," Brown said.

"He said he wanted to play in a good roster and win and not be down at the bottom of the table, and he said Manly and Cronulla had good rosters. 

"We just explained where we were this time two seasons ago to where we are now, and how far we have come and how much progress we’d made.

"And we showed him some footage of training, which gave him a look at what we are attempting to do and where he’d fit in and how much our younger players have developed.

"He seemed comfortable with that."

Pearce signed a four-year deal with the Knights, believed to be worth in excess of $4 million.

2 December 2017




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