Robinson confirms Pearce to be Sydney Rooster’s ‘super-sub’

Trent Robinson has confirmed that if Cooper Cronk does sign with the Sydney Roosters, Mitchell Pearce will be the man to lose his starting spot.

As noise that Cronk will announce his future in the coming days grows, speculation regarding the short-term future of halfback and one-club player Pearce has grown.

News that Luke Keary is in deep negotiations over a three-year contract extension along with the fact that hooker Jake Friend is the club’s captain has seen Pearce nominated as the odd man out of the team, with coach Robinson now confirming Pearce would become the Rooster’s ‘super-sub’.

Being the incumbent New South Wales halfback, shifting back to the interchange bench doesn’t seem like a move Mitchell Pearce would be too excited about.

The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles have emerged as favourites for the half’s signature, though Newcastle have also thrown their hat in the ring.

A move into the number fourteen jersey would see Pearce move away from his preferred position of halfback, and into the unfamiliar position of hooker, possibly even lock at times.

Pearce has already cancelled three meetings with Trent Robinson, though is expected to meet with the head coach in the coming days, before jetting off to the US for a holiday.

Reportedly on a salary close to $800,000 a season, Pearce would well and truly be one of most expensive bench-warmers in the competition, and would surely dent his already murky chances of wearing the Blues' number seven jersey in 2018.

He’s yet to speak out on the matter, but if Pearce is told to shift to the bench next season, it only appears a matter of time before the former Tricolour’s captain confirms his Bondi departure.