Mar 12th, 2019

Mar 12th, 2019

Mitchell Pearce can lead the Newcastle Knights back into the finals, win the Dally M Medal and possibly even earn a NSW Origin comeback this season.

Those are the incredible predictions from a raft of rugby league legends and Channel Nine commentators, including Newcastle icon and Immortal Andrew Johns.

Pearce, 29, had an injury-hit 2018 season but has been tipped to return with a vengeance this year alongside new halves partner Kalyn Ponga, who also has admirers for Dally M honours.

“I think they’ll make the eight, they’ve signed some really good players. David Klemmer’s a really good buy for them,” Johns told Wide World of Sports.

“Mitchell and Kalyn, word’s getting back that they’re killing it at training. Last year, if Mitchell Pearce didn’t get injured, they would have been in the top eight for sure. If Mitchell’s there and Kalyn’s there for a big chunk of the season, they definitely make the eight.”

And while Pearce has earned more criticism than praise across his Blues career, which features five wins from 18 games, Johns said he was still in the Origin picture.

“Definitely. I think Mitchell at that level is a better five-eighth, a better second receiver,” Johns said.

“They could go Luke Keary and Mitchell, or Nathan Cleary and Mitchell. He’s in there for sure. I know Freddy [NSW coach Brad Fittler] is a big fan of him.”

Mitchell Pearce has been tipped for a huge season. (Getty)

The NRL version of Pearce, on about $1 million per season in Newcastle, is an outstanding halfback. He was sensational in the Roosters’ charge to the 2013 premiership and has been a strong contributor across more than 250 NRL games.

And get this. One of those who thinks that Pearce can win the Dally M Medal is the man who tormented him so often in Origin: Queensland icon Billy Slater, himself a Dally M winner.

“I highly rate him as a football player. He’s very creative. If the Knights can have a big year, I think Mitchell Pearce will be in the frame,” Slater told Wide World of Sports, predicting a top-eight finish for the Knights.

Billy Slater's kick returning made life hard for Mitchell Pearce in Origin. (AAP)

“I think they’ve bought particularly well. Jesse Ramien’s a fantastic centre, a really strong defensive player and hard to handle when he’s got the football. And Tim Glasby’s one of those guys that really galvanises your team in the middle of the park. He’s the type of player that can be quite underrated.

“They were quite unlucky with Mitchell Pearce going down with a pec injury last season and also Kalyn Ponga having an injury at different times of the year; they weren’t on the park a lot together.

“I think Mitchell Pearce is in for a big season and if they can keep those two key guys on the paddock and everyone else can build that team role around them, I think they’re in for a decent year.”

Mitchell Pearce in action during a trial against the Dragons. (AAP)

Four-time premiership-winning halfback Peter Sterling, who twice won the old Rothmans Medal, has also tipped Pearce for the Dally M top gong.

“I think Mitchell Pearce can have a really good year again. I think Ponga alongside him will help his game also,” Sterling told Wide World of Sports.

“I think Newcastle can win more games than they did last year and when they do win, I think Mitchell Pearce will be close to their best every week. He plays a position that normally polls well, so I think he can have a really good year at a club that’s improving.

“They’ve got more depth to their squad this year and if they can have a good run and only use 23-24 players, then they can have a good year. I still think they’re a fringe eight side, but they might be better than that. I am excited about the prospect of a Ponga-Pearce halves combination; if I was Nathan Brown, I’d be excited by that.”

Mitchell Pearce played just 15 games for Newcastle in an injury-hit 2018. (AAP)

One man who sees the Dally M Medal going to Ponga is rugby league Immortal Wally Lewis. ‘King’ Wally told Wide World of Sports that Ponga was one of the most talented players he’d ever seen.

“He’s a freak, an absolute freak,” Lewis said. “He’s blessed. Talent like that only comes around every decade.

“He’s smart, he’s very careful, his decision-making process is very wise and when you talk to him about football, you don’t get a snap answer; he’ll think about it for a while and he’s a very wise young man.”

Ponga looking to lead the NRL

Four-time Dally M Medallist Johnathan Thurston told Wide World of Sports that the gong might just be beyond Ponga (second to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck last year) due to his switch from fullback to five-eighth.

“I would have said Kalyn, but going from fullback to five-eighth, it’s a completely different role for him,” said Thurston, who tipped Ponga to play No.1 for Queensland come Origin time.

Ponga, 20, is entering just his second season with Newcastle, having reportedly signed for roughly $600,000 per season back in 2016, when he had just two NRL games to his credit. Off-contract in 2021, he already represents incredible value.

“He’s an unbelievable talent. I’m glad he’s in Newcastle colours,” Johns said.

“When they signed him, people were going, ‘Why did you pay this much money for him?’ I had a feeling they were going to get him in cheap and in the end, they got him cheap.”

Kalyn Ponga makes a break for Newcastle. (Getty)

Slater believes that the Ponga-Pearce partnership can do special things if they play like traditional halves, building a genuine combination that roams the field.

“They need to work together, they need to find that balance. Allan Langer and Kevin Walters spring to mind; the real traditional half/five-eighth combination. Ricky Stuart and Laurie Daley,” Slater said.

“They had that balance and they didn’t have that restriction on where they sat on the field. Because not only are they restricted on when they get the ball, defences know where they’re going to be and if they stay in that position, they can plan and they can strategically defend them.

“But if they’re moving around and all of a sudden Ponga’s on the left and then he’s on the right, and Mitchell’s over there and they’re swapping and changing, and you’ve got Connor Watson using his speed off the back of them, it’s really hard to defend. Even more so, it’s hard to prepare to defend, and that is so important in this day and age. With the game at the moment, everyone plans how they’re going to defend, what they’re going to see, and they train it.”

Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga during Knights training. (AAP)

Slater said he had huge raps on Ponga. He spent time with the young superstar in Queensland Origin camp last year.

“I was really impressed with him as a person and as a footballer. He’s a great young man, he’s got a lot of respect for people and he had that willingness to learn,” Slater said.

“We spent a bit of time together, both as teammates and trying to pass on a little bit of knowledge. He’s got such a great attitude to get better and he’s just got that ability to be special. I think that’s a great recipe for success.

Kalyn Ponga with Billy Slater in Queensland Origin camp, 2018. (AAP)

“He’s going to be some sort of player when he finally builds his whole game. He’s obviously learning a new craft at No.6, which is fantastic for his football development. He’s plays very similar to a No.6 anyway up in the front line, so I don’t think that will change a whole heap.

“Getting involved might be a bit different for him. At fullback, you can be around where the ball’s going to be and you can put yourself wherever the play’s happening, whereas at six … I hope they can swing a little bit and play like a traditional six and seven, and not just park him on the one edge, which would be a waste of talent I think.

“I know Nathan Brown is quite a smart coach, and he would understand that unlocking Kalyn Ponga as much as he can is going to be beneficial for his team.”