Newcastle’s stunning fall from finals contention has hit Mitchell Pearce in the hip pocket, with the NSW halfback missing out on up to $150,000 in bonus payments this season.
When Pearce left the Roosters to take up a four-year deal with the Knights, he did so on a performance-based contract that officials hoped would further incentivise their marquee man.
Pearce stood to earn an additional $150,000 if the Knights made the top four, a result that appeared a distinct possibility when they beat the Roosters during a six-game winning streak in the middle of the season.
Even a top-eight finish would have triggered a $75,000 bonus, an expectation many had of the club given its roster contains five State of Origin stars.
Those top-ups, to a base salary of about $900,000, had the potential to make him a seven-figure player and can be triggered every time his side contests the play-offs.
It meant the 30-year-old could have earned an additional $600,000 by the final year of his contract if the Knights could have reached the top four every year.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/kn...ost-pearce-150-000-bonus-20190828-p52lq1.html
Maybe his dad Wayne 'mr integrity' Pearce can hand over the difference as it was allegedly his inside info about Manly that swayed his son to allegedly sign allegedly elsewhere.
el oh el