Pearce vows to get Roosters rolling

Mitchell Pearce has vowed to get the Sydney Roosters forwards rolling when he makes his return to the NRL against Newcastle at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

The halfback is keen to make amends after serving an eight-game ban for his drunken Australia Day antics and has pin-pointed how the Roosters can get their horrible season back on track after one win in eight rounds.

“I think all the teams that are playing well are playing upbeat and have big forward packs,” said Pearce on the Roosters’ website on Wednesday night.

“It suits our style well, we just haven’t kicked into gear too well.”

The Roosters have struggled for direction with young halves Jackson Hastings and Jayden Nikorima playing the bulk of the season together.

Hastings, 20, will partner Pearce in the halves against the Knights.

Helping Pearce’s cause to dominate the middle is the return of inspirational Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves who is also playing his first game of the season after suffering a knee injury last year.

“I’m looking forward to having an impact with the boys in the middle of the ruck, there’s definitely a bit of speed there,” Pearce said.

“We need to start winning and winning fast, and that’s an area we can capitalise on.”

Pearce has kept a low profile since returning from a stay at a Thailand rehabilitation clinic in February.

“There was a lot of talk, a lot of media, and that’s kind of gone quiet but I’ve been doing a lot of work behind closed doors,” he said.

“I’ve got to make amends, and make amends fast.”

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