‘It’s bizarre’: Todd Carney weighs in on Eels’ phone call to retired star Mitchell Pearce
UPDATED: Mitchell Pearce has cleared up reports around him linking up with the Eels after conflicting stories.
Initial reports from News Corp suggested a third party reached out to Parramatta suggesting they should approach Pearce after Mitchell Moses’ injury before it was suggested on Triple M that it was the other way around.
Having returned to Australia from his stint with Catalans Dragons in recent months, the retired Pearce confirmed on The Footy Talk podcast that there was an approach.
“It’s quite hilarious really … I got a phone call last week, I was just at home, [and] someone from around Parramatta was reaching out to see if I was keen to play.
“After the phone call, I didn’t think much of it until it flared up again, I kind of went about my business because playing football’s been the last thing on my mind. I’m happily retired.
“Obviously Parramatta’s reached out, there’s a story saying I’ve reached out to Parramatta so I don’t know what the go is there, which sort of took me back a bit because the last thing I’m doing is knocking on anyone’s door to play footy, I’m happily retired.
“Whatever’s going on over there at Parra, I’m not sure. I did get reached out to which I was taken back a bit, being a retired player and not having much training under my belt.”
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The former Knights and Roosters halfback added if he had said yes, the Eels were keen to explore the options of a deal.
“That’s the honest truth,” he said.
“Obviously if I had shown interest they would’ve gone further … I’m not too sure of the situation there, obviously Mitch is out.
“To be honest I haven’t been following them that closely other than watching the footy each week. Obviously, they’re struggling for a bit of depth there but I would’ve thought I’d be the last option for them.”
Pearce’s former teammate Todd Carney, who also features on the podcast, believes it provides an “interesting” perspective on how the Eels are looking to handle the development of young gun Blaize Talagi.
“If I was a team struggling and I knew Mitch was in Australia and he hadn’t been on a six-month holiday, he’d probably be the first person I’d pick up a phone to and make the phone call and ask if he’d be interested,” he said.
“I’m sure there’d be a few clubs scratching their heads going, reckon we could get Mitch Pearce fit and ready for the middle of the year?
“But for me, the question is with Parra, they’ve got a young kid waiting in the wings that they’re looking to re-sign, I know Canberra’s sniffing about so it’s an interesting one if they’re not confident in him or don’t want to blood him because they know he’s going to go elsewhere but for Mitch, it’s bizarre.”
“Maybe teams have lost my number, have they forgotten about me?,” Carney added with a laugh.
The 2010 Dally M medallist went on to ask Pearce how he thought he’d go if given four to five weeks to reach the required fitness.
The 34-year-old’s reply confirmed any conjecture around a future NRL return.
“We’re competitors, aren’t we? If you’re going to ask me a question like that I’m going to say I’d do my best and go good,” he said.
“To be honest I had a choice at the back end of last year whether I was going to retire or not. I was playing decent footy overseas, I know the game’s slower there but my body’s durable.
“I feel like I still could’ve played another season if I was committed and had full focus.
“But with the six-month layoff, when you retire your mind transfers straight away into different priorities. Your priorities change into new goals and football becomes less of a priority.
“The motivation’s not there to play and the competitive edge goes away a bit … I’m not coming back to play.”
