KNIGHTS playmaker Mitchell Pearce plans on riding the rugby league roller-coaster for a good few years yet.
As he prepares to play in his 300th NRL game, against Wests Tigers at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday, the 31-year-old halfback said he was proud of what he had achieved in his footballing career thus far, but nowhere near satisfied.
Fourteen years after making his top-grade debut for the Roosters, as a 17-year-old self-confessed "stick figure", Pearce continues to dream big.
"How would I like to be remembered? As a premiership-winning player in Newcastle," he told the Newcastle Herald on Monday, during a barrage of media interviews.
The veteran of 19 State of Origins for NSW also hasn't given up hope of playing further representative football and still has aspirations to eventually wear the green and gold, as his father Wayne did in 19 Tests.
"I think I came close a couple of times, in 2014 and 2016, but for so long they [the Kangaroos] had a pretty handy spine there," he said.
"I suppose it's a bit disappointing but it was hard to break into those teams. If an opportunity came up, I'd love to play at that level."
Having recently signed a one-year extension, extending his tenure at the Knights until at least the end of 2022, Pearce will become the 42nd player in Australian rugby league's 114-season history to rack up a triple-century of games.
Barring injuries, he appears on track to become only the second player to pass the 400-game milestone, and given that he says he would "like to play forever", he could potentially challenge the recently retired Cameron Smith's all-time record of 430 appearances.
Age-wise, Pearce is on par with Smith when the latter reached 300 games, in 2015.
"I got stress fractures [in his back] in my first NRL season, probably because I was a little stick figure, but apart from that I haven't missed too many games throughout my career," Pearce recalled.
"I'm really grateful to have been able to play a lot of games.
"Every player wants to play as much as they can, because that's what we love and we work hard to get out on the field every week.
"So to be physically able to get out and do what I love every week, I'm grateful for that."
Along the way, Pearce has established himself as one of the finest first receivers of his generation, steering the Roosters to a grand final loss to St George Illawarra in 2010 and then a victory against Manly in the 2013 decider, before seeking a release at the end of 2017, when the club signed Cooper Cronk from Melbourne.
At the time, Pearce attracted interest from a host of high-profile clubs. He could also have stayed put at the Roosters and honoured his contract, and possibly won himself another premiership or two. But he clearly has no regrets about joining the Knights, for whom he has played 61 games, after his 238 for the tricolours.
"There was just an instinct in me that wanted to come here," he said.
"It was just a feeling. There was just a really good energy about Newcastle, and I said that from day one.
"I now know why I felt that way, because I love it. I love the people in the club and what the town is about.
"So I guess I look back now and I'm glad I trusted my instinct."
Pearce, of course, has been involved in some well-documented off-field dramas, most recently during the pre-season, and has paid a high price.
While the media scrutiny has at times been harsh, he has always copped it sweet.
"The beauty of rugby league is it's such a roller-coaster," Pearce said.
How would I like to be remembered? As a premiership-winning player in Newcastle.
MITCHELL PEARCE
"That's what we all love about it ... it's all part and parcel of the game.
"When you do the wrong things sometimes, you're going to cop the criticism.
"It's no different to when you're going through a patch of bad form. You get compliments when you're going well, so ... you just have to accept it and remember that we're living the dream.
"There are so many great things that come with footy that you have to appreciate what the game gives you."
Pearce said his default response to any type of adversity was always to "man up" and "don't look backwards".
"I pride myself that when things go wrong, whether it's off the field or a bad game, whatever setbacks or criticism I get in footy I grit my teeth and want to bounce back," he said.
"I want to show my resilience. That's something I think is naturally in my character and inspires me."
Asked what advice he would give a 17-year-old Mitchell Pearce, preparing to make his NRL debut, he replied with a chuckle: "Probably just slow down a little bit, on and off the field.
"Look, I've always been a passionate person and player, who wears my heart on my sleeve.
"Probably that's what helped me get to first grade at a young age. I just had so much desire. I wanted to play first grade. I wanted to compete. I've never lost that. But maybe if I'd slowed down a little bit, life might have been a little bit easier."
