Mitchell Pearce has a long and painful State of Origin history, being part of a New South Wales team dominated by Queensland for over a decade. Since making his debut in a Game 3 decider at ANZ Stadium in 2008, he has played a total of 18 Origin matches for the Blues across seven unsuccessful series.
He makes his return to the Origin arena next Wednesday on the back of some brilliant club form for the Knights. No one ever questioned his ability at club level, but plenty have been willing to single him out as the main reason the Blues suffered so many losing campaigns in recent years.
It is completely unreasonable to blame Pearce for series losses which occurred during a period when the Maroons were simply too good. Paul Gallen played 24 games for the Blues starting in 2006, but he didn't recieve as much condemnation as Pearce, possibly because of what happened in 2014. The Blues, with Trent Hodkinson at halfback, won a series in 2014 with Gallen as captain. With that one series win it became easier to single out Pearce, particularly when his return in 2015 saw another Queensland series triumph.
As Pearce lines up for a shot at finally being part of a series-winning New South Wales team, we look at three reasons why this time will be different.
1. The Opposition
During the losing run Pearce was famously taunted by super star Johnathan Thurston, who suggested he have his photo taken with the Wally Lewis statue outside Suncorp Stadium, as it would be the closest he'd come to ever holding up the State of Origin shield.
Pearce played his seven losing series against some of the greatest players to ever lace up a boot. The whole Blues team started each game during that period knowing they were up against four or five of the best players ever in their positions. It didn't have to be a psychological hurdle, because it was an enormous actual hurdle. Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Thurston combined at Origin level to form an almost unbeatable core, ably backed up by a quality supporting cast who gave their all for the maroon jersey.
Ben Hunt, Daly Cherry-Evans, Cameron Munster and Kalyn Ponga are no mugs and their combination will only improve and make Queensland formidable for years to come. They are not, nor might they ever be, on the same level as the players Pearce faced during the losing run.
The loss of Ponga for this decider lowers further the overall threat posed by this developing group of players. Playing Origin is still obviously a massive step up from club football, but this is not the same almost insurmountable maroon hurdle previously placed in front of Pearce.
2. Maturity and form at club level
Pearce made his debut for New South Wales as a 19 year old. He would later admit he was too young and not ready for the job. He found success and his fair share of off field drama at the Roosters while still in his early twenties.
Like all successful rugby league players, Pearce worked hard for his on field achievements. Like a lot of young men in his shoes he also enjoyed himself off the field. If there had been a campaign against young footballers having too much money and too much spare time, then Pearce would have been the poster boy.
Now thirty and in his second season leading the rejuvenation of the Newcastle Knights, Pearce has abandoned the front page and social sections to feature exclusively in the back pages. With Kalyn Ponga he has been the key to the Knights sitting in fifth place on the NRL ladder with eight wins.
His maturity extends to his play. He knows his game intimately, has developed a first class kicking game and has stepped up his leadership qualities. Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns will give him a game plan, he'll run on with nerves jingling but with the confidence and experience to control his contribution to a Blues series victory.
3. The development of halves partner James Maloney
James Maloney joined Pearce at the Roosters at the beginning of the 2013 NRL season. Maloney made his State of Origin debut that year alongside Pearce as the Blues lost another series 2-1. By the end of 2013, Maloney and Pearce had formed a halves partnership good enough to take the Roosters to the premiership title.
Maloney and Pearce watched on in 2014 as the Blues won a rare Origin series, with Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds in the halves. Maloney left the Roosters for the Sharks in 2016 and that same year returned for the Blues in another series loss, one which Pearce missed completely. At the end of the year Maloney once again lifted the premiership trophy in his first season at a new club.
Pearce and Maloney teamed up again for New South Wales in 2017, and after a convincing 28-4 win in Game 1, went on to lose another series 2-1. Game 3 of that series would be the last time Pearce was seen in a Blues jersey.
In 2018 Maloney was with the Panthers and teamed up with young half Nathan Cleary to lead the Blues to a memorable series win. It was the beginning of a new era, with new coach Brad Fittler naming 11 debutants for Game 1. Queensland had lost a lot of their stars and New South Wales was starting afresh.
Maloney was left out of the Game 1 of this series after some indifferent club form for the Panthers. He returned in triumph for Game 2 and all the talk since has been about his ability to lead teams to victory in the big games. Maloney will take a lot of pressure off Pearce on Wednesday, controlling much of the game management. New South Wales won't be relying on Pearce alone when their backs are against the wall. He'll be able to select his moments, allowing Maloney to do what Maloney does best - win a big game.
Put all this together and the signs are there, that Mitchell Pearce will finally get the Origin monkey off his back.