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Mitchell Pearce watches on.
EMBATTLED Roosters playmaker Mitchell Pearce has broken his silence three days out from returning from an eight-game suspension.
Pearce was whacked with the two-month ban and fined $125,000 — $50,000 of which is suspended — following the emergence of a lewd Australia Day video involving the intoxicated halfback.
He also had his co-captaincy stripped by the club and has been kicked out of the leadership group.
He’s barely been sighted since flying to Thailand for a week’s rehabilitation back in February.
But he appeared on Roosters TV on Wednesday to again apologise to fans and teammates publicly.
Mitchell Pearce warms up during a Sydney Roosters training session.Source:Getty Images
“I’ve let a lot of people down, I’m under no illusions,†Pearce said.
“There was a lot of talk, a lot of media, and that’s kind of gone quiet but I’ve been doing a lot of work behind closed doors.
“I’m under no illusions as to where I’m at in my career and as a player right now, and that’s a guy coming back into a team that I let down.
“I’ve got to make amends, and make amends fast.â€
Pearce returns from suspension to line up against Newcastle on Saturday.
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He enters a team wallowing on the bottom of the NRL ladder and now mired in controversy thanks to coach Trent Robinson’s post-game spray this week.
The rookie halves pairing of Jackson Hastings and Jayden Nikorima has battled to perform and the latter has been dropped from the side altogether.
It will also be Pearce’s first time experiencing the NRL’s rule changes concerning shot clocks, lower interchange allowance, and the video review bunker.
He believes he can help get the best out of the Roosters.
Mitchell Pearce watches the Roosters play.Source:News Corp Australia
“I think all the teams that are playing well are playing upbeat and have big forward packs,†Pearce said.
“It suits our style well, we just haven’t kicked into gear too well.
“I’m looking forward to having an impact with the boys in the middle of the ruck, there’s definitely a bit of speed there.
“We need to start winning and winning fast, and that’s an area we can capitalise on.â€
The writer is on Twitter @SimonBrunsdon