NRL news: Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett denies club is chasing Mitchell Pearce
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett has denied the Broncos are chasing Mitchell Pearce, despite reports linking the Blues halfback to Red Hill.
Even though the Broncos are without an experienced halfback for next season after Ben Hunt signed on with the Dragons on a big money deal, Bennett hit back at speculation Brisbane were chasing Pearce.
“Mitchell Pearce will not be at the Broncos,” Bennett said while preparing for England’s semi-final against Tonga.
“I haven’t spoken to him once and we haven’t even made him an offer — we’re not interested.
“I’m not lying about that.
“We can’t afford him under the salary cap but even if we could afford him, we still wouldn’t take him. Pearce is a good player but we’re happy with the culture we’ve got here.
“People criticise me for signing James Roberts (former NRL bad boy) but James is not a leader at this club.
“People don’t follow James at this club, he fits into the Broncos culture.
“I’m happy with the squad I’ve got.”
Manly and Newcastle appear to be the frontrunners to sign Pearce with the Sharks also in the running.
Roosters captain Boyd Cordner addressed the issue of Pearce’s departure while in Kangaroos camp, declaring the Roosters culture would step up a level after the signing of Cronk and James Tedesco.
“It’s sad to see Mitchell go, but that’s rugby league. It’s a business. It doesn’t just happen at the Roosters,” said Cordner.
“He was still signed at the Roosters. It was never in our plans to let ‘Pearcey’ go, he was going to be a big part of the team. But with Mitchell wanting to be a No. 7 and run the team, which you can understand, that’s the way panned out.
“If you have a look at the halfback we have just signed (Cronk), he is a premiership-winning halfback and he is the Queensland and Australian halfback.
“We have also signed James Tedesco so even though Pearcey is a great player, I don’t think we will lose much with Cooper Cronk coming into the side.
“Cooper Cronk is a Rooster now and I can’t be happier he is at our club.”
