Sydney Roosters star Mitchell Pearce is free to be selected for the NSW State of Origin team after his club and the NRL finalised investigations into his wild night out at the weekend.
The halfback has been slapped with a one-game suspension by the Roosters, fined $20,000 which will go to charity and ordered to take part in counselling after he was kicked out of two nightspots, arrested and served with an infringement notice by police on Saturday night.
The NRL say its integrity unit is satisfied with the action taken by the Roosters and won’t take any further action against the 25-year-old.
Pearce will miss the Roosters’ Saturday night NRL clash with North Queensland in Townsville, freeing him up to be selected in Laurie Daley’s NSW team next Tuesday.
Blues and Roosters teammate Boyd Cordner will also be available for Origin selection despite being fined $5000 ($2500 suspended) for also being kicked out of a premises on Saturday night.
Pearce was on Tuesday cleared by police after allegations he made inappropriate contact with a woman at Kings Cross nightclub Beach Haus, which led to his eviction.
The woman contacted police on Monday night and informed them she didn’t wish to pursue the matter after inconclusive security footage had appeared on Channel Nine news.
However, Pearce’s night out was still another black eye for the game after he was earlier kicked out of the Clovelly Hotel and was then issued with an infringement notice by police for failing to leave a licensed premises after he was removed from the Beach Haus.
Cordner was also removed from the Clovelly Hotel.
“The club is most disappointed with the events of the weekend. The club and NRL have strong policies in place and there is a process that has had to run its course,” said Sydney Roosters chief operating officer for football, Brian Canavan.
“Mitchell and Boyd have accepted the club sanctions and shown genuine remorse for the negative spotlight both have attracted to the Roosters and the game by breaching the club’s and NRL’s standards.
“Both are important contributors to our club, and the game, and we will continue to work closely with them to ensure their continued personal development off the field.”
