This was published 7 years ago
State of Origin 2017: Nathan Peats selection over Robbie Farah is for Mitchell Pearce
NSW coach Laurie Daley has entrusted Mitchell Pearce with the task of dictating the style of play the Blues hope will bring a halt to Queensland's Origin dominance.
Daley's decision to overlook Robbie Farah in favour of Nathan Peats is a clear indication of his desire to get his halves early ball, placing added pressure on the much-maligned Pearce to do what he has failed to do in previous years.
"When I got the call off Loz he was pretty positive about playing to my strengths, playing the style we play at the Roosters," Pearce said after earning a recall to the NSW side following his omission last year.
"That's the style I'm comfortable with and I'm looking forward to implementing that this week and getting the boys around as soon as we start training on Wednesday. It's good trust. It's my job, I'm at an age where I run our side at the Roosters and I call most of the shots there.
Debut: Nathan Peats (centre) at the Blues team announcement.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
"It's a style I'm comfortable with and as a rep team you're obviously playing with different players. We've got to hit the ground running, Queensland are all on the same page, they've been on the same page for a long time and I'm looking forward to getting everyone on our page so we can hit the ground running on Wednesday."
Pearce has been the Origin punching bag for the best part of the past decade. But his early-season form at the Roosters has been irresistible, forcing Daley to move away from Matt Moylan in the halves despite him leading the Blues to victory in game three.
But Pearce's selection appears to have led to Farah's omission.
"The way Mitchell has been playing obviously made it difficult and he's playing in career-best form," Daley said.
"So if he was ever going to have another crack it would've been now, so he gets his opportunity when he's in red-hot form. Hopefully we have provided him with the team that can go forward and give him every opportunity to be at his best. What we want to do is play a different style, so we want more want the ball in the halfback's hands. And Peatsy is the best person we thought could fit that responsibility.
"Robbie is a really creative player and worries the opposition with his subtle skills. The other two, you probably don't use them in that way out of dummy-half. They're more good service, off the ground and give it to the halves for early ball, so we'd do something different this time around."
The heartache of repeated failed Origin attempts has scarred Pearce for years. His Australia Day antics last year cruelled him of an Origin berth and he admits there was a time he wondered if he would ever return to the NRL, let alone State of Origin.
"The constant speculation, it creates a lot of different stories and innuendo but it's all part of it and I've come to get used to it in my football career," Pearce said.
Playmaker: Mitchell Pearce (centre) will be given the task of steering the Blues team around the park.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
"At the end of the day I'm doing what I love, playing footy for a living. Last year I went away and didn't even know if I was going to be playing footy again, a year later I'm here and going to be playing Origin.
"It's no secret as a state, we've won one series in 10 years. [Queensland have] had a brilliant side, been way too dominant and it kills me. It kills me that we haven't won a series, it kills all the boys. We're winners and competitors, no one wants to lose."
There's an obvious change in Pearce's demeanour this time around.
In previous Origin camps, the Roosters No.7 was candid and emotional about his opportunities. This time he is deliberate in his attempts to be dispassionate.
"Someone said a really good quote to me the other day," Pearce said.
"The boss of a business was talking to someone about people talking about their story. He said it only brings anxiety to people. People on the outside giving a comment on what you are doing now, that's what you do when your career or life are finished.
"For me now I am in the moment ... anything else is bullshit. In the past I have got caught up with that. As a young kid it's easy to do."