AFTER signing his contract with Newcastle, Mitchell Pearce made an important phone call.

It wasn’t to his parents or his girlfriend but the man whose jersey he will be taking.

Having inked a four-year-deal to lead the Knights next season, Brock Lamb’s future is clouded due to the arrival of the No.7.

While Lamb is still only 20, he’s guided the first grade side for the past two seasons and while his management are exploring the open market as he weighs up his future, Pearce is excited to play the local product.

Round 20

“I’ve got a really big rap on Brock Lamb,” Pearce told Knights TV.

“I spoke to him on the phone as soon as I signed. Being a halfback coming to the club where it has been his team. I’m really excited about the halves and the development in the halves over the next couple of years.

Mitchell Pearce with former Roosters teammate Connor Watson at their first Knights training together. Source: News Corp Australia

“It’s a great young forward pack and some really exciting new players — Tautau Moga as well is going to be a real strike (weapon).”

While a $4 million deal with several results related bonuses helped lure Pearce from Bondi and up the Pacific Highway, the vision of Nathan Brown with the other major selling point.

The Knights will be a team Pearce can own with a playing style that suits the No.7.

Pearce said after his first meeting with the coach, he knew the club had a lot to offer.

“I called my dad straight away,” he said after his first meeting with Brown.

“I was really excited about the direction the club was going.

“I felt like for me and the point of my career I’m at — a real leadership role with a young squad that’s evolving, they’re only going to get better and better and buy into the town, that was the big reason why I wanted to come here.”

Having made his NRL debut for the Roosters back in 2007, Pearce leaves the Tri colours after 11 seasons with the club.

With a premiership to his name and 17 Origins for the Blues, Pearce isn’t concerned about the expectations that follows him after signing as the club’s marquee man.

Confident that he can handle the pressures to perform, Pearce said his short-term focus is on settling into his new surroundings.

“Buying into the culture and the team and earning the respect of the team,” he said.

“I’ve never changed clubs before so I’m stepping into a bit of the unknown.

“Earning the respect of my teammates is the number one goal for me.”