I wasn’t affected by drugs: Pearce

Mitchell Pearce says he was not affected by drugs, but did not even know he was being filmed during his drunken Australia Day escapade.

The NRL star has told Alan Jones on Fairfax Radio he only learned the video had been shot of him simulating a lewd act with a dog when he was contacted by his Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson the next day.

Jones asked Pearce if speculation he was affected by drugs on the night of the incident was accurate, to which Pearce replied “no”.

Earlier, the NRL’s women’s adviser Catherine Lumby called on the league to end the career of Pearce.

Pearce arrived back in Australia on Sunday after a month-long stint in a Thai rehab clinic.

The halfback issued a second apology upon his return, admitting he had humiliated himself and adding he will cop whatever punishment is handed down to him by the club or NRL.

That is likely to be a six-week suspension and $50,000 fine, but Lumby says it will merely be a slap on the wrist.

“Personally I wouldn’t (allow him back in the game) because of all the support and education he has had and the fact he is a senior leader who should know better,” she told News Corp Australia.

“He has had ample opportunity (to learn).”

Lumby is of the opinion Pearce’s actions were an act of aggressive harassment aimed at a female who had rejected his advances.

Meanwhile, Pearce’s NSW Origin captain Paul Gallen believes calls for a year-long ban are “totally unfair, way too tough and over the top.

“It was a stupid thing to do, it was immature,” he said.

“He’s away helping himself. Hopefully he can come back a better person, sit out six, eight, 10 weeks of the comp and then come back.”

Pearce is likely to discover his fate this week, with new Roosters chief executive John Lees already showing some signs of contrition for the star playmaker.

“There was no violence involved,” he told Fairfax Media.

“There was ultimately no bigger crime or major sort of criminal matter, but it’s a serious societal issue and that’s why we’re taking it seriously.”

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