Mitchell Pearce's Origin glass still half empty Mitchell Pearce, Blues assistant coach Brad Fittler and Blake Ferguson are all smiles as they arrive for training at Sydney's Coogee Oval yesterday. MITCHELL Pearce takes a break from eating a very late lunch and considers the question. How would he grade his career? On paper, it stacks up against the best. At the age of 24, he has made more than 100 appearances for the Sydney Roosters. He has represented his state on nine occasions. He has been earmarked as a future captain for both club and state. Not bad - but not enough. "I still don't feel fulfilled at this level, no way," Pearce says of State of Origin as he reclines in a leather seat in the lobby of the NSW team hotel in Sydney's eastern suburbs. It feels really empty, to be honest. Winning it, full stop, will make that a lot more fulfilled. I think, for me, I am at that point where I have been a kid and been afforded a few mistakes. I think you get to that age where people don't accept that as much anymore. You have to own up to that and take ownership of that. It gets to a point where you have to take that next step and own that responsibility. It's just the way it is. I have been playing since I was young. I suppose I still have a long way to go - I am only halfway through my career - but you can either go that way (pointing upwards) or you can plateau and stay where you are. These are the sort of games when you are marked. There is obviously a bit of pressure. There is pressure on everyone. With that pressure comes responsibility and great respect if you can step up. That's the challenge. Pearce will once again take centre stage at ANZ Stadium next Wednesday night. Origin has been a source of angst for not only him but everyone in a NSW jersey. Over the past seven years there have been flashes, but mostly frustration. Pearce is about to take part in his third series in succession. For the third time in as many years, he begins the series with a new halves partner. Jamie Soward, Todd Carney and now clubmate James Maloney. The constant this year is hooker Robbie Farah and the pair have become sounding boards. "I always keep in touch with him after games and things like that," Pearce said. He is obviously captain of his club. He is a real leader, so I am learning a few things off him like that. We have just been talking about what we need to do. You don't have much time in these sort of things. We haven't executed well the last couple of years, to be honest. As a halfback it comes back to my shoulders. And therein lies the issue for Pearce and the state that annually perches itself on his shoulders. More often than not, all eyes turn to the man in the No 7 jersey. Pearce has had plenty of time to get used to the idea this year: coach Laurie Daley told him the job was his months ago. "It just becomes a bit of a broken record," Pearce said. There's nothing else to really be said. Whatever we say is not going to mean anything unless we go out there and get it done. It seems like you talk about the Origin for seven months before it's even picked, which is great. But there's nothing else to be said. We just need to go out there and win. Your first couple of games you're just happy to be here, just doing your best. Everything is awesome. Now I have got to the point where it's not about just being here. You're going in knowing what it's about. It's about stepping up as that leader as a half. I don't feel I have done that fully yet. Pearce copped some flak for his club form earlier in the year but the critics have gone quiet of late. He enters Origin in good form, and his life has changed off the field. Bikram yoga and healthy living have become hallmarks for a player who has been partial to the odd party over the years. It's all part of growing up. "It's about owning the team and I think that comes through action," Pearce said. There's a lot of players who stay at the same level because maybe they don't want to take that next step. Everyone would love to, but I suppose it's a skill and that's why you respect those guys so much, the great players of the game. You're marked by what you're doing and I suppose that's why this series is so big for me and the team. Unless we win, it's just going to keep being the same. Play bad and win, I would be happy with that.