![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/wayne-pearce-1.jpg\")
Wayne Pearce in his heyday with the Balmain Tigers.<\/p>\nOne of rugby league\u2019s most respected identities is heading to the Hunter next month to throw his support behind Sleapy\u2019s Foundation.<\/p>\n
NRL legend Wayne Pearce OAM, also known as Junior, will be the special guest at the local charity\u2019s fundraising luncheon, Cutting Edge, at Souths Merewether on Friday 10 October.<\/p>\n
From 1pm until 5pm, the 65-year-old, who represented the Balmain Tigers on 193 occasions, NSW (16) and Australia (19) between 1980 and 1990, is expected to share powerful insights on high performance, resilience and what it takes to stay at the top with host Adam Murray from NBN.<\/p>\n
Attendees can also enjoy a two-course meal, drinks, raffles, an auction and plenty of sporting banter, while amassing funds to help families and individuals facing serious hardship, those battling illness or experiencing\u00a0crisis or financial stress.<\/p>\n
Wayne Pearce in his heyday with the Balmain Tigers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to it,\u201d Pearce said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost people are wired in a way that they can help others where possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Sleapy (Peter Sleap) and his foundation is taking that to another level.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I am honoured to play a role.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlus, it\u2019s nice to be remembered after all these years,\u201d he added with a laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll tell a few yarns of bygone days, funny behind the scenes stories that I\u2019ve come across.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter all, I played alongside several of the game\u2019s greatest characters, like Steve \u201cBlocker\u201d Roach, Paul Sironen, Kerry Hemlsey and Benny Elias.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, I also want to talk about peak performance because that\u2019s what I\u2019ve really focused on since I retired.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been consulting with businesses and running programs around that subject, pretty much on the mindset of teamwork and leadership.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose things come into play in everyday life.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, there are certain fundamental aspects that if we do them right, we\u2019re much more effective\u2026 and life is a lot more enjoyable.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, most of it doesn\u2019t get taught in school and we fumble and bumble around \u2013 as I did for a long period of time \u2013 until you hit the mark.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy view is that life\u2019s a journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all about learning and learning, then re-learning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what allowed me to have such a successful footy career.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd, yes, I\u2019m still researching, learning about myself\u2026 it\u2019s never-ending.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, to be to share that, via stories, some tools and techniques, is really exciting.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something I truly love.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pearce kicked off his career with Balmain in 1980, achieving almost every accolade an individual can attain.<\/p>\n
He donned an NSW State of Origin jersey from 1983 to 1988, captaining the side to a historic clean-sweep in 1986, while wearing the \u201cgreen and gold\u201d between 1982 and 1988.<\/p>\n
In February 2008, the lock was named in the list of Australia\u2019s 100 Greatest Players (1908-2007), which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL\u00a0to celebrate the code\u2019s centenary year.<\/p>\n
\u201cNotwithstanding, I had some good accomplishments,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking back, I would certainly do things differently \u2013 in a number of areas \u2013 to how I did them because that was the level of consciousness that I was operating at.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, I\u2019m very happy and honoured to have had the opportunity to represent Australia, captain NSW and the Tigers, and all that sort of stuff.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a nice resume.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, like I said, if I was to go back and know what I know now, I believe I would have been an even better player.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/20240614199796397442-original.jpg\")
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese chats with Balmain Tigers NRL legends Wayne Pearce and Steve \u201cBlocker\u201d Roach at Leichhardt Oval. (AAP Image\/Dean Lewins)<\/p>\n
These days, Pearce is as busy as ever.<\/p>\n
Apart from his speaking engagements, he\u2019s an Australian Rugby League (ARL) Commissioner, overseeing the governance of the code.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, it\u2019s really satisfying,\u201d he told the Newcastle Weekly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith Peter V\u2019Landys as chair, he\u2019s a real visionary and someone who is doing a great job taking the game forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s terrific to work with him and assist in that journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m aware we cop a bit of criticism now and then, however \u2013 from my point of view \u2013 rugby league is in the best place it\u2019s ever been.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at the crowds, the ratings and the speed of the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s an old-school mentality that sort of says we must return to the old-fashioned barge and bring back the biff days.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, unfortunately, that\u2019s never going to happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in another era now where the game is appealing to an even much, much bigger audience than it did back when I played.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd, the reason for that is because it\u2019s evolved to be a real entertainment spectacle.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs administrators, I guess we\u2019re not in the business of sport anymore.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, we\u2019re going to make sure we continue to stay tuned to what our audience wants, to stay in that sweet spot, which we\u2019re in at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n