His father is a Balmain legend, yet he plays for the Sydney Roosters – though that does not look like stopping the Wests Tigers from making subtle enquiries about the availability of NSW and Roosters halfback, Mitchell Pearce.
With November 1 being the date in which rival teams can make offers for players off-contract at the end of the 2013 season, with Pearce expected to attract as much as $650,000, for the 2014 NRL season.
“It is difficult to measure the worth of a player of Mitchell’s calibre,” said his agent Mike Newton.
“So it would be in his best interest to test his worth on the open market before agreeing to a new deal.”
“We are in no hurry to do anything with Mitchell’s contract,” Newton said.
“There is certainly no rush. The club is eager to extend his contract and Mitchell loves the place and certainly would like to stay.
“But we aren’t in a hurry and we need to see how some things play out, especially with the TV rights deal and what it will mean for the salary cap, and how the new CBA (collective bargaining agreement) will be structured.”
Warren McDonnell, who is the recruitment manager at the Wests Tigers, said that whilst the club has asked about the availability of Mitchell Pearce, the club has distanced themselves from acquiring the young play-maker.
“I make calls to hundreds of managers and speak to them all the time,” McDonnell said.
“That is nothing unusual, but we are very happy with our halves, having Benji Marshall, Curtis Sironen going well, Braith Anasta coming and Jacob Miller coming through.”