Pearce opens up on ‘most expensive bender’ that almost ended NRL career
Former NRL star Mitchell Pearce has opened up about his infamous Australia Day scandal, labelling it “the most expensive bender I ever had”.
Pearce was one of the best halfbacks in the NRL when his career came crashing down in 2016 after a drinking session over the January long weekend.
Mitchell Pearce speaks to Code Sports. Code Sports
He had been on a Sydney Harbour cruise and then continued drinking in the eastern suburbs, before ending up at an apartment with unknown people.
A video was taken of Pearce without his knowledge, in which he attempted to kiss a woman and then imitated a sex act with a dog named Bella.
The video was shopped around to media outlets the following day and eventually went viral as the scandal blew up.
“I remember waking up the next day, hungover,” Pearce said on the Code Sports podcast Sacked.
“I remember leaving the house and we knew something had happened, but I didn’t know it was going to escalate.
“Next minute I was on A Current Affair and there was people from RSPCA (after me).”
Pearce was almost sacked by the Roosters but managed to hold on to his contract.
But he was fined $125,000, with $50,000 of that suspended, and banned for eight games in what is still the biggest ever fine handed to a player.
He flew to a Thailand rehab centre and was hounded by TV cameras on the way to the airport.
“I went to the airport to go to rehab, and it was like I was a criminal,” Pearce said.
“I was getting escorted through. There was that many cameras there. I went on business class to get there so no one could speak to me.”
Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney during their time at the Roosters. nna\lachlan.harper
Pearce admits he was stunned by the sanction imposed by the Roosters.
“I’m never one to complain. I’m retired now. I put my hand up for everything I’ve done, good and bad,” Pearce said.
“I’ve never been someone to be bitter, and I don’t like being that type of person, but it was a pretty crazy fine.
“But I copped it on the chin. I knew that what I did was irresponsible. I was doing the wrong thing.”
Pearce was eventually dumped by the Roosters the following year when Cooper Cronk moved up from Melbourne, and won the club consecutive premierships in 2018 and 2019.
Pearce finished his NRL career with four seasons at the Knights before a stint with Catalans, and retired in 2023.
