Mitchell Pearce Speaks Openly to Buzz Rothfield About His Therapy Sessions at Alcoholics Anonymous

Sunday Telegraph (Sydney), Sydney 15 May 2016, by Phil Rothfield

Sport, page 44 - 1,698.00 cm² Capital City Daily - circulation 439,926 (------S) Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence. ID 593894056 BRIEF EDEL-CABIN INDEX 1 PAGE 1 of 3 I’M BECOMING A PERSON: PEARCEBETTER

The Sundayyg Telegraph’s sports editor-at-large gPhil Rothfield goesg one-on-one in an exclusive interview with Roosters star Mitchell Pearce about his journey to win back the respect of the rugby league world MITCHELL Pearce speaks openly and from the shattered and fallen spent most of February. It’s three or four comfortably about his recent therapy all witnessed earlier this yea sessions a week. It keeps him focused. sessions at Alcoholics Anonymous. the hard news out of the way “It’s opened up a whole new journey There is not the slightest hint of State of Origin. Does he for me and it’s definitely a good jour- shame or embarrassment. Nor should play for the NSW Blues? Wil there be. It’s just part of the process on himself available for whe his long road to recovery. Daley announces his team to Like others undergoing treatment, week? Pearce recently stood in front of the “I respect the Blues jerse group and introduced himself. it’s always been a privilege to Being a high-profile NRL footy for NSW,” he says. “But it wo player makes no difference. Many be presumptuous of me to eve better person and with that a better knew who he was. The publicity sur- think I could walk into th leader. It gives me a balance away from rounding his pre-season binge drinking team after everything that football. It’s not intense but it’s chal- and lewd act ensured that. has happened. lenging, mentally. The people there are This is the place where thousands of “I was disappointed just like me. It’s just that they are in a struggling Australians from all walks of about what got leaked to the different environment. life meet, talk and work on getting their paper the other day that I “A lot of it is just being honest with lives back in order. Everyone is the wouldn’t play. I hones yourself and talking about where you same and there is nowhere to hide. haven’t thought that far ahe are at. It changes your beliefs and they “We’re all human and we’re all the absolute truth. One story teach us about people who chase those addressing the same sort of problems,” highs.” Pearce tells The Sunday Telegraph. comes a bit of chaos. My focus is on the The 27-year-old Roosters halfback “It’s actually a very trustworthy and Titans on Monday night. It’s a cliche is hardly the first rugby league player to positive environment and everyone is but I’m taking a game at a time. succumb to a grog problem. Drinking, there to get help and to learn. “I want to play well and want to help drugs and gambling are not just an “My rehab is not over by any means. the entire Roosters team. I’m fully fo- NRL issue but widespread among other It’s continuous. It’s a reality and there’s cused on my rehabilitation and my sports stars as they deal every day with no time limit. I’m doing it willingly. football and that’s where I’m at.” the pressure of public scrutiny. And I feel like I’m growing.” Pearce keeps ramming home the Right now, his great mate Kieran Pearce’s progress over the past four point he is nowhere near fully recov- Foran is undergoing similar rehabili- months has been quite remarkable. ered. It takes much longer than four tation in a Brisbane clinic. We meet at a Surry Hills cafe on Fri- months to recuperate and fix the issues en chatting to Kieran a bit,” day for his first interview that threatened to bring a premature eals. “We’ve grown up to- media blitz when he arrived h end to his NRL career. ce we were eight or nine- the clinic in Thailand where Outside of Alcoholics Anonymous, nd he’s like a brother to me. ment began. he is undergoing other regular rehab oing through his own prob- He is upbeat, funny, pos from a branch of The Cabin, the world it’s sad. I guess though one optimistic about the future — renowned Thailand clinic where he ing about what Kieran and I Sunday Telegraph (Sydney), Sydney 15 May 2016, by Phil Rothfield

doing is that there are a few And I’m feeling a lot healthier for it.” le talking about these issues The worst thing is he is dealing with e’s a lot more awareness and is the guilt and shame of letting his itive. Everyone is human. teammates down. The fans, the ball there’s a lot of ego. We members and the coaching staff at the ery day and play tough but Sydney Roosters. Everyone at the club. l slip.” Those first five losses, the 40-0 arce says he has learnt to thumping to the Cowboys and the e with the criticism and the 42-10 loss to the Rabbitohs. Each week public taunts about his form and each loss you’d see Pearce help- and his private life, es- lessly wandering around the dressing pecially since the latest in- sheds, normally with his head down. cident. “I was going through a lot of emo- “One fan kept barking at tions not being part of it,” he said. me the other week for the “The most important thing is I’ve whole game when we played now learnt a lot about accountability n Canberra,” he laughs. and taking responsibility for my ac- “To be honest, I’ve had my tions. I’ve still got to make amends. share of criticism over my “The next step is Monday night e career with all the differ- against the Titans.” ent opinions out there. It actually doesn’t worry me that much. “The stronger you get as a person you only listen to the people you respect He’s going through his own problem most. Overall it’s reasonably positive. sad. I guess, though, one positive th Everyone knows I stuffed up. If they are negative, I know I did the wrong thing about what Kieran and I have been d and I’ve just got to move on.’’ is that there are a few more people Those people he says he respects are among a huge network of family and talking about these issues now friends who have been there since that ill-fated Australia Day cruise and after- PEARCE ON HIS MATE KIERAN FORAN party. He keeps reeling off names. His best mates, Tristan Hay and Liam Roach; Mum and Dad, Wayne and Terri; his coach Trent Robinson; club chairman Nick Politis; Sonny Bill Williams’ agent Khoder Nasser; and boxing trainer Tony Mundine. “You have no idea how much I appreciate their care and their love,” he said. “Liam and Tristan are my closest mates with my family. You can never take friendship for granted. “You cherish your parents. I’ve got closer to my family. It’s united us. Lack of love is not one of my problems and I couldn’t do without them. “I’ve learnt a lot of life lessons in recent times, especially about support networks. I wouldn’t be there if Nick didn’t support me through the whole shemozzle. And Trent Robinson, he’s been a friend as much as my coach.” So for now, the long road to recovery continues. Pearce admits he is not in a position to say he’ll never drink again. “I’ve always been loose when I’m on it,” he says. “Right now I’m fine. I’m certainly not going out. No nightclubs. Sunday Telegraph (Sydney), Sydney 15 May 2016, by Phil Rothfield

Roosters half Mitchell Pearce opens up to Phil Rothfield over coffee at a Surry Hills cafe on Friday. Picture: Dylan Robinson