Legend left 'stunned' by reports of star's return

Rugby league fable Phil Gould says he'd beryllium "stunned" if Mitchell Pearce returned to the NRL, arsenic rumours ellipse of a Sydney Roosters swansong.

Pearce, who presently plays for Catalans Dragons successful the Super League, near the NRL successful 2021 erstwhile playing for Newcastle.

His clip astatine the Knights came aft the Roosters moved him connected for Cooper Cronk successful 2017.

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Gould believes the determination wouldn't amended the Roosters existent problems.

"I'm stunned that the Roosters deliberation that's a solution to their issues, it stuns maine adjacent much that they deliberation Mitchell Pearce astatine this signifier is simply a solution to their issues," helium said connected Nine's 100% Footy.

"They got escaped of him years ago, sent him packing to Newcastle, I conscionable don't get what the Roosters spot successful that decision.

"To maine Sam Walker's their future, and it's been rather evident since he's been retired they've mislaid each their advertisement lib, they've mislaid each their spark, they've mislaid their spontaneity. It's gone backmost into conscionable playing constituent to point, it's precise structured and precise dilatory and predictable."

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Gould added this isn't the archetypal clip there's been involvement successful Pearce making an NRL comeback aft heading implicit to France.

"I cognize that the extremity of past season, heading successful 2023, helium had a mates of opportunities to travel backmost to the NRL, and helium thought, 'I can't bash that, I'm not ready'," helium said.

"It was for 1 year, travel into the NRL and decorativeness your vocation off, and helium was benignant of similar that didn't entreaty to him astatine all. Here we are 12 months aboriginal and they're saying he's going to travel backmost adjacent year."

Good person and erstwhile State of Origin teammate Wade Graham said from the conversations he's had with Pearce, helium doesn't deliberation helium should travel back.

"He seems to beryllium enjoying his life, loving his life, Catalans are playing well, they're apical of the table, (there's an) accidental to person immoderate occurrence and pursuit immoderate silverware," helium said.

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"I consciousness similar arsenic a person of Mitchell's, helium seems to beryllium happy, helium seems beryllium enjoying his beingness and I'd accidental enactment implicit there."

Graham added being separated from the unit and scrutiny that comes with playing rugby league successful Australia is 1 of the biggest advantages to staying successful the Super League. 

"I had a speech with him past twelvemonth erstwhile I was disconnected declaration due to the fact that I've publically said I'm keen to spell implicit to France astatine immoderate signifier of my vocation due to the fact that of my partner's French background," helium said.

"He was loving life, telling maine however overmuch helium enjoyed the club, however overmuch helium enjoyed surviving implicit there, the experience, being retired of the shot bubble. You play footy connected the play and past spell astir your concern during the week, you conscionable bid ... you're conscionable retired of that unit bubble that you unrecorded in, it was a daze to maine erstwhile it came retired (that helium mightiness return)."

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