Roosters captain Boyd Cordner knew there was no talking Mitchell Pearce out of his decision this week to seek an immediate release from the Sydney Roosters, following the signing of superstar halfback Cooper Cronk last month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Before informing the club of his decision to leave after playing 238 NRL games in 11 years, Pearce phoned Cordner to tell him it was time to move on.
The close mates spoke while Pearce was on his post-season holiday in the United States, but the ex-Rooster's future was not discussed at that point. Then the pair chatted again when the halfback returned to Australia.
Cordner, who will play alongside future teammate Cronk for the Kangaroos in Friday's World Cup semi-final against Fiji in Brisbane, had been hopeful Pearce would remain at the Tri-colours next season but it wasn't to be.
"I don't think whatever I would've said was going to change his mind, he would've had a lot of people in his ear and hearing some outside noise, but I let him know how I felt and he knows how I feel about him," Cordner said.
"He's one of my best mates so it's sad to see him go but as a mate, I'm happy he's made that decision. I'm going to support him for whatever he does.
"It's been well-documented that it was never in the Roosters' plan to let Pearcey go at all. He was going to still be a big part of the team. But with Mitchell wanting to be a No.7 and run the team, which you can understand, that's just the way it panned out.
"I've been speaking to a couple of the boys and although they are sad as well, they understand the situation and understand what's going on. It's sad to see but that's football and we'll move on."
Manly, Cronulla and Newcastle have emerged as likely destinations for Pearce, who still had two years remaining on his Roosters contract.
Cronk said as soon as he signed for the Bondi club he was looking forward to working alongside Pearce, although the premiership-winning halfback was potentially facing a season playing from the bench, or switching to the five-eighth role.
The signing of Cronk and subsequent exit of Pearce means the Roosters have effectively replaced the NSW halfback with the best No.7 in the game.
"If you have look at the halfback we've just signed, he's a Queensland Origin halfback, a premiership-winning halfback and he's also the Australian halfback," Cordner said.
"I don't think we lose much with Cooper Cronk coming into the side. We've also made another pretty good signing with James Tedesco.
"Speaking with the boys, everyone was really excited about the addition of Cooper. Everyone's really keen to play with him but that's footy. Pearcey's moved on now ... we're more than excited to have Cooper Cronk as a Rooster.
"I've spoken to Cooper, I just reassured him that we're so happy that he's coming to the Roosters. He's a Rooster now.
"These things are out of your control and that's footy. It's a business. He shouldn't be feeling like it was his fault or anything because it's not.
"It's a business, it's football. It happens. Although it's sad to see Pearcey go, we're super happy to have Cooper Cronk coming to the Roosters."
Fiji also ramped up their preparations with a lengthy field session on Tuesday morning after their gritty 4-2 win over New Zealand on Saturday. But Cordner said another Fijian upset was unlikely.
"Not if we play our best footy," Cordner said. "If we can play the way we want to and execute, hopefully we can put in a good performance and get the win."
