Newcastle Knights coach Nathan Brown is hopeful NSW selectors will judge veteran playmaker Mitchell Pearce on his performances over the entire season and not just on his efforts against the Melbourne Storm on Saturday afternoon.
Pearce's final audition ahead of Origin II never really got going as the in-form Knights were thrashed 34-4 by a rampant Storm outfit. The 30-year-old faces a nervous wait to see if he has earned a recall into Brad Fittler's side.
Brown urged selectors, who are deciding who will partner Nathan Cleary in Origin game two in Perth next weekend, to overlook Pearce's efforts during the loss and instead judge the halfback on his previous form.
"You shouldn’t judge any player from any club on one performance," Brown said after the loss to the Storm.
"Hopefully for our guys' sake there is a bit of a reward for them for what they have done over the last period."
Match Highlights: Storm v Knights
Pearce echoed the thoughts of his coach and hopes he has done enough through the first half of the season to earn an Origin recall.
"I've played 280 first grade games, I'm not too fussed about one game (against the Storm)," Pearce said.
"If they want to pick me I will do my best with what I've got and if they want to pick someone else they will back them to do the best they can.
"It would be a great opportunity. If they wanted me to play I'd be proud to play for the Blues again and I'd be doing everything I can to get the win as I've been doing in every single game since I was a kid."
Pearce was seen icing his right leg in the sheds after picking up a minor cork, but the experienced playmaker said "it was nothing too serious" and he expected to be fit for Origin duties should he be called into the Blues' side.
And should he be lucky enough to earn an Origin call-up, Pearce said he might try a few different things this time round to try and make sure his time with the Blues is more enjoyable.
"Blocking out social media could be a good thing," Pearce said.
"If you're reading that stuff you're silly anyway, in my opinion.
"When you win you're going to get pats on the back and when you lose you're going to get criticised and that's just the way it is."
