Mitchell Pearce set to retire

Catalans Dragons have announced that Mitchell Pearce will retire at the end of the 2023 Betfred Super League season.

The Australian halfback, who arrived at the club in 2022, will hang up his boots after 17 seasons as a professionalRugby League player.

Mitchell Pearce made his NRL debut with the Sydney Roosters in 2007 as a 17-year-old and won an NRL Premiership in 2013, the Minor Premiership in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and the World Club Challenge in 2014. He joined the Newcastle Knights in 2018 and his form the following season earned the halfback six consecutive man-of-the-match awards and a State of Origin recall, winning the series in 2019. He joined the NRL's 300-club earlier in 2019 and totalled 77 tries in 309 appearances in the competition.

After playing 15 seasons in the NRL, Pearce signed for Catalans Dragons last season and quickly became a key player in Steve McNamara's squad. He's scored 13 tries in 35 Super League games so far during his two seasons at the Dragons.

On announcing his retirement, Mitchell Pearce said: "I've decided that this season will be last in Rugby League. What a journey it's been. I finish the game knowing I have given every bit of my heart and soul for nearly 18 years. I've had some amazing times and leave the game with friends I know I'll have for the rest of my life. I still have a job to do with Catalans Dragons and I'm all in to go after that trophy and make history for French Rugby League."

Dragons head coach Steve McNamara added: "Mitchell has had an incredible career and we at the Catalans Dragons are privileged to have played a small part in that. He has an insatiable drive and desire to finish as a Super League winner and help create history for our team and French rugby league. He is also a fantastic young man who I have seen blossom as a person in the two years he has been with us and we wish him well with his future retirement."