Knights star requests immediate release

Veteran halfback Mitchell Pearce has requested a released from his Newcastle contract.

The 32-year-old is presently committed to playing the 2022 NRL play with the Knights but the nine announced connected Wednesday an authoritative merchandise petition has been lodged. The 2 parties volition present negociate terms.

It follows dense speculation successful caller days Pearce is acceptable to permission Australia and determination to France to play for Super League nine Catalans.

"The Knights person agreed to see the request, with some parties respectfully agreeing to marque nary further remark until an result is determined," a connection said.

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Mitchell Pearce (Getty)

He was paid $1 cardinal by the Knights this twelvemonth but the nine lone offered him a reduced declaration for adjacent season, which helium signed contempt reports of involvement from rival NRL clubs.

He relinquished the nine captaincy astatine the commencement of 2021 in the aftermath of a sexting scandal that, astatine the time, threatened to disagreement the playing group.

A superior pectoral wounded past hampered his 2021 run and, contempt playing finals, the Knights underperformed and were bundled retired of finals successful week one.

The nine has younger playmakers Jake Clifford, Adam Clune, and Phoenix Crossland warring for jerseys adjacent season, portion Tex Hoy, Kalyn Ponga, and Kurt Mann are besides options successful the No.6 if manager Adam O'Brien wishes to subdivision out.

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Catalans a bully acceptable for Pearce: Joey

Pearce volition caput to Catalans wherever helium volition regenerate chap seasoned playmaker James Maloney arsenic the overseas marquee subordinate astatine the Dragons.

Pearce debuted for the Roosters successful 2007 and won a premiership with them successful 2013, alongside Maloney.

He was the youngest subordinate to scope 250 NRL games and had his oculus connected reaching 400 - matching aboriginal Immortal Cameron Smith - but appears destined to permission the contention connected 309.

He has besides played 19 Origin games for NSW, yet playing a portion successful a winning bid successful 2019 aft years of torture astatine the hands of Queensland during what became an unstoppable dynasty.

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