Mitchell Pearce

Pearce has been strongly linked to an immediate move to French Super League club, Catalans Dragons, to finish out his professional career.

The 32-year-old formally asked for a release from the Knights last month after meeting with club powerbrokers.

Newcastle announced that Pearce had been released effective immediately, so he could take the French deal with a reported $1.8 million over three years.

“The Newcastle Knights have agreed to grant Mitchell Pearce a release to join English Super League Club, Catalans Dragons,” a club statement read.

Fox Sports has learned Pearce has officially received a three-year contract offer from UK Super League grand finalists Catalans overnight and will soon travel from Sydney to Newcastle to meet club powerbrokers.

Playing just his seventh game of the season and his first in a month, Pearce scored a try on the stroke of half-time and kicked astutely to guide the Knights into the top eight for the time being at least.

The Knights took control of the game early and had seven sets on Brisbane’s line inside the opening 10 minutes but could not find a way through.

When Brisbane finally got some field position they made it count when young fullback Tesi Niu crossed in the 13th minute to but the lead was short lived as Jake Clifford crossed seven minutes later and the Knights led 6-4.

Pearce left the field inside the final five minutes, with Jamie Buhrer filling in at halfback and placing a kick that resulted in the match-winning try to winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall.

Brown indicated post-game scans were set to confirm the extent of the injury but said it didn't look good.

The Knights coach also cleared any confusion during the game by confirming Pearce was replaced by Luke Yates as a free interchange - with Yates able to return to the field after passing a HIA examination.

No stranger to taking on former sides after stints with the Sydney Roosters, Cronulla Sharks, Melbourne Storm and Warriors, he believes Pearce and Newcastle Knights teammates Connor Watson, Aidan Guerra and Shaun Kenny-Dowall will be out to prove a point against their old club, the Sydney Roosters.

The exit of Pearce, in particular, left Roosters fans with mixed opinions over the treatment of their long-serving players as he made way for Australian international Cooper Cronk after 12 seasons in the red, white and blue.

Such was the demand for his services, Pearce could have named his price and virtually demanded a guaranteed fee to join the wooden-spooners.

Instead, he had financial incentives written into his contract that will reward him if the club reaches the top eight and the top four.

Reportedly on a deal worth more than $4 million over four years, Wests Group boss and Knights CEO Phil Gardner confirmed Pearce has backed himself to lead the club's revival after three consecutive wooden spoons.

Thurston admitted the Roosters' decision to sign Cronk for two NRL seasons was "harsh" on Pearce, but said the 28-year-old was forgoing a golden chance to complete his skill set.

As Pearce jetted out to the United States on a three-week holiday on Tuesday, Cronk fronted a large media contingency in Canberra ahead of Friday's World Cup game against France to discuss his decision to link with the Tricolours.

Cronk said he hopes Pearce remains at Bondi Junction and believes Roosters coach Trent Robinson can successfully deploy three representative halves in 2018, with Cronk, Pearce and Luke Keary all playing in the same side.

Hayne is undoubtedly one of the game's most damaging stars and has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the series, including a try in each of the first two Origins.  

However, his final 20 minutes in the Game Two loss at ANZ Stadium left some questioning whether he should be retained for the July 12 decider after Hayne came up with a couple of errors, including a shocking behind-the-back flick pass that let Queensland off the hook just when the Blues were going in for the kill.